
Class _B§J091 



Book 



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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



READINGS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT 
AND PHRASE BOOK 



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READINGS FROM 

THE OLD TESTAMENT 

AND PHRASE BOOK 



ARRANGED AND EDITED BY 

LOUISE EMERY TUCKER, M. A. 

Author of " Historical Plays of Colonial Days," etc. 



flew H?otfc 
STURGIS & WALTON 

COMPANY 

1913 



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Copyright, 1913, 
BY STURGIS & WALTON COMPANY 



Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1913 



JAN 15 1914 



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RI 

OLD TESTAMENT 



READINGS FROM THE 



Copyright, 1913, 
By STURGIS Sc WALTON COMPANY 



Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1913 



A 



'CIA362151 



DEDICATED TO THE 

MILLIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN 

Being trained throughout our land, not 
alone in the broad ideals of education 
and good citizenship but in the great 
fundamental principles of morals and 
right living, by the thousands of loyal, 
earnest and devoted public and private 
school teachers. 



PREFACE 

This volume of Bible readings represents an earnest 
effort to furnish to the children of our broad land, — 
in the home, in the public school and in the private 
school, — an insight into the myriad beauties of the Book 
of Books, by rendering vital and interesting, reading 
which is too often merely perfunctory. 

This it does by lifting out from the great mass of 
Biblical text, so confusing to childish minds, such stories, 
poems, nature descriptions, character studies, etc., as are 
apt most strongly to appeal to them, and to present these 
selections in a complete and connected form. The se- 
lections in this volume are from the Old Testament ex- 
clusively, thereby furnishing a common ground upon 
which all children may unite without violence to sincere 
and honest differences in religious belief that may be 
held by their parents. 

With its companion volume, THE OLD TESTA- 
MENT PHRASE BOOK, this book of readings is also 
designed to promote the study of English in the schools, 
— to promote the use of strong, simple Anglo-Saxon 
words and phrases, — by going back to original sources, 
to that " purest well of English undefiled," the English 
Bible, whose simplicity and strength of diction, and the 
beauty of whose imagery, have never been equalled in 
all literature. For this purpose the selections have been 
so classified and arranged in sections as to make most 
convenient their use in the class room as well as for 
assembly reading at school morning exercises and for 
general reading in the home. Special attention may 
here be directed to the sections devoted to Nature De- 
scriptions and Pictures of Pastoral Life, to Character 



Preface 

Studies, to the Wisdom Selections, and to the Sym- 
posium on Peace, than which no grander expressions on 
Universal Peace and the brotherhood of man have ever 
been penned. 

The text of the Revised Version of the Bible has been 
followed throughout. In the case of a few of the selec- 
tions, notably some of the Psalms, the verse arrangement 
used in the Modern Readers' Bible has been adopted. 
For kind permission to make use of these literary forms 
thanks are extended to Prof. Richard G. Moulton, the 
editor, and to the Macmillan Company, the publishers 
of that excellent work, which should be in the hands of 
every student of literature and of the Bible. 

Louise Emery Tucker. 



CONTENTS 

Section I 

NATURE DESCRIPTIONS 

PAGE 

Two Idylls of Spring-Time 3 

Of Gardens 4 

The War Horse 5 

The Lions 5 

The Wild-Ox 6 

Behemoth: The Hippopotamus 6 

Leviathan: The Crocodile 7 

The Parable of the Eagles 9 

The Eagle 11 

The Ostrich 12 

The Waterspring 12 

The Cedar of Lebanon: A Parable 13 

The Broken Vine: An Elegy 15 

The Heavens 16 

Night and Day 17 

The Storm 17 

The Rainbow : A Token of Promise 19 

Song of the Thunderstorm 19 

The Sea 20 

A Storm at Sea 20 

The Story of Creation: As Told in Prose in the Book of 

Genesis 21 

The Story of Creation: As Told in Poetic Form in the 

Book of Job 25 

The Story of Creation: As Told in Song by King David 27 
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil : In which is 

Recounted the story of the fall of Man 29 

Songs of Occupations : 

The Miner 31 

The Farmer 32 

The Skilful Workman 32 



Contents 



Section II 

TICTURES OF PASTORAL LIFE PAGE 

The Herd 37 

The Purchase of the Field 37 

The Land 38 

The Song of the Well 39 

The Promised Land 39 

The Fields 40 

A Happy People 40 

Home Life: A Family Song 41 

A Song of the Vineyard 41 

A Blessing on the Land of Joseph 42 

The Land of Plenty 43 

The Drought 44 

The Desert 45 

The Shepherds : A Parable 47 

The Transformation of the Desert 49 

The Twenty-third Psalm : The Song of the Shepherd . . 50 

Joseph and His Brothers: The Story of a Shepherd Lad 51 
Pharaoh's Dream: A Story of Egypt, the Granary of the 

East 54 

Isaac and Rebekah : A Pastoral Idyll 58 

Jacob and Rachel: A Pastoral Idyll 63 

An Idyll of the Harvest Field: Ruth and Boaz .... 66 

Section III 

PICTURES OF COURT LIFE 

A King Riding in State 75 

A Royal Caravan 76 

The Riches of King Solomon 77 

Lovers of Luxury 78 

Women of Jerusalem 79 

The Romance of Commerce 79 

A Song of Loves: A Royal Marriage Hymn .... 81 

A Persian Court Idyll 83 

Section IV 

THE BOOK OF W0NDER3 

Daniel and the King's Meat 101 

King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream 103 



Contents 



PAGE 

The Story of the Three Holy Children : Who were Cast 

into the Burning Fiery Furnace 107 

The Tree That was Cut Down no 

The Feast of Belshazzar: And the Handwriting that Ap- 
peared on the Wall 114 

The Story of Daniel in the Den of the Lions 117 

The Vision of the Four Great Beasts 119 

The Vision at the River TJlai 122 

Daniel and the Angel 124 

The Vision of the Time of the End 127 

Section V 

CHARACTER STUDIES 

The Patriarch: Abraham, Father of Nations .... 137 

The Law-Giver: Moses 140 

The Birth of Moses 140 

The Marriage of Moses , 141 

Moses the Deliverer 142 

The Song of Deliverance 144 

Moses the Law-Giver . 146 

The Ten Commandments 149 

Some Mosaic Laws upon which Modern Law is Founded 151 

An Oration of Moses 153 

The Death of Moses 165 

The Upright Judge: Samuel, the Last of the Judges over 

Israel 166 

The Sweet Psalmist of Israel 168 

The Boy David and the Giant 169 

David and Jonathan: The Story of an Immortal Friendship 173 

The Shepherd Boy Who Became King 180 

David's Lament Over Jonathan 181 

A King's Gratitude 182 

The Man of Wisdom: King Solomon 184 

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom 184 

The Wisdom of King Solomon 185 

Section VI 

WORDS OF WISDOM 

The Value of Wisdom 189 

The Wisdom that Cometh of God 189 



Contents 



PAGE 

Wisdom Compared igo 

The Wisdom of Youth 190 

Wisdom and Filial Obedience 191 

The Instruction of a Father 191 

A Father's Law 192 

The Obedient Sons : A Lesson in Filial Duty .... 193 

Industry 195 

The Field of the Slothful 195 

Good and Evil 195 

Strong Drink 196 

A Song of Unity 196 

The Strength of Love 197 

The Virtuous Woman 197 

Short Poems About Many Things 199 

Two Things Which I Desire 199 

Four Things Too Wonderful for Me 199 

Four Things which the Earth Cannot Bear .... 199 

Four Things which are Little but Wise 200 

Four Things which are Stately in Going 200 

Seven Things which the Lord Hateth 200 

Times and Seasons 201 

A Lament for Vanished Days 201 

Youth, Old Age and the Grave 203 

The Vanity of All Things 204 



Section VII 

WORD-PICTURES OF WAR AND A SYMPOSIUM ON PEACE 

A War Picture: The Battle of Ai 207 

The War with the Five Kings 209 

The War Song of Deborah 211 

The Captives : An Elegy 214 

The Destruction of Tyre 215 

War Anthem: A Hymn of Victory 218 

War Anthem: A Hymn of Defeat 219 

Sidelights Upon War: Its Spectacular and its Cruel Sides 
as Instanced in Many Short Passages from Various 
Sections of the Old Testament 220 



Contents 



PAGE 

A Symposium on Peace 222 

The Prince of Peace 222 

A Promise of Universal Peace (And other short pas- 
sages concerning Peace.) 222 

The Messenger of Peace 223 

The King of Peace 225 

The Reign of Righteousness 228 

New Heavens and a New Earth 230 

The Light Everlasting 233 

Section VIII 

FESTAL HYMNS AND SONGS AND DEVOTIONAL PASSAGES 

A Song of Praise to the Lord 239 

The Majesty of the Lord 240 

The Might of the Lord 240 

The King of Glory 243 

False Gods and the True 243 

A Festal Hymn 245 

An Evening Prayer 245 

A Morning Prayer 246 

A Song of Thanksgiving 247 

The Prayer of King Solomon: On the Completion of the 

Temple 248 

The Dedication of the Temple 251 

A Song of the Lord's House 253 

Benediction of the Night Watch 254 

The Sabbath 254 

Feast Days of the Lord 255 

The Day of the Coming of the Lord 258 



Section I 
NATURE DESCRIPTIONS 



TWO IDYLLS OF SPRING-TIME 

FROM THE SONG OF SONGS WHICH IS SOLOMON^ 



Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; 

Let us lodge in the villages. 

Let us get up early to the vineyards ; 
Let us see whether the vine hath budded, 

And the tender grape appear, 

And the pomegranates be in flower: 

There will I give thee my love 

The mandrakes give forth fragrance, 

And at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, 

New and old, 

Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. 

The Song of Songs, vii, 11-13. 



II 

The voice of my beloved! behold he cometh, 

Leaping upon the mountains, 

Skipping upon the hills. 
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: 

Behold, he standeth behind our wall, 
He looketh in at the windows, 
He sheweth himself through the lattice. 

My beloved spake, and said unto me: 
Rise up, my love, my fair one, 

And come away. 

3 



Old Testament Headings 

• 

For, lo, the winter is past, 

The rain is over and gone; 
The flowers appear on the earth; 

The time of the singing of birds is come, 

And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land ; 
The fig tree ripeneth her green figs, 

And the vines are in blossom, 

They give forth their fragrance. 
Arise, my love, my fair one, 

And come away. 

The Song of Songs, it, 8-13. 



OF GARDENS 

I went down into the garden of nuts, 
To see the green plants of the valley, 
To see whether the vine budded, 
And the pomegranates were in flower. 

The Song of Songs, vi, II, 12. 

A garden shut up is my sister, my bride, 
A spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 
Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with pre- 
cious fruits ; 
Henna with spikenard plants, 
Spikenard and saffron, 

Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, 
Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. 
Thou art a fountain of gardens, 
A well of living waters, 
And flowing streams from Lebanon. 

The Song of Songs, %v, 12-15. 



Old Testament Readings 



THE WAR-HORSE 

Hast thou given the horse his might? 

Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane? 

Hast thou made him to leap as the locust ? 

The glory of his snorting is terrible. 

He paweth in the valley, he rejoiceth in his strength: 

He goeth out to meet the armed men. 

He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed ; 

Neither turneth he back from the sword. 

The quiver rattleth against him, 

The flashing spear and the javelin. 

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; 

Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet. 

As oft as the trumpet soundeth he saith, Aha! 

And he smelleth the battle afar off, 

The thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 

Job, xxxix, 19-25. 



THE LIONS 

A LAMENTATION FOR THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL 

Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes 
of Israel, and say, 

Who was thy mother ? A lioness : she couched among 
lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her 
whelps. And she brought up one of her whelps ; he 
became a young lion : and he learned to catch the prey, 
he devoured men. The nations also heard of him ; he 
was taken in their pit : and they brought him with hooks 
unto the land of Egypt. 

Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope 
was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made 



6 Old Testament Headings 

» 

him a young lion. And he went up and down among 
the lions, he became a young lion: and he learned to 
catch the prey, he devoured men. And he knew their 
palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was 
desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of 
his roaring. Then the nations set against him on every 
side from the provinces: and they spread their nets 
over him; he was taken in their pit. And they put him 
in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of 
Babylon; they brought him into strong holds, that his 
voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of 
Israel. 

Ezek. xix, i- 10. 



THE WILD-OX 

Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? 

Or will he abide by thy crib? 

Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow ? 

Or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 

Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great? 

Or wilt thou leave to him thy labour? 

Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy 

seed, 
And gather the corn of thy threshing-floor? 

Job, xx xix, 9-12. 



BEHEMOTH 

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; 

He eateth grass as an ox. 

Lo now, his strength is in his loins, 

And his force is in the muscles of his belly. 



Old Testament Readings 7 

• 

He moveth his tail like a cedar: 

The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 

His bones are as tubes of brass ; 

His limbs are like bars of iron. 

He is the chief of the ways of God: 

He only that made him 

Can make his sword to approach unto him. 

Surely the mountains bring him forth food; 

Where all the beasts of the field do play. 

He lieth under the lotus trees, 

In the covert of the reed, and the fen. 

The lotus trees cover him with their shadow; 

The willows of the brook compass him about. 

Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not: 

He is confident, though Jordan swell even to his mouth. 

Shall any take him when he is on the watch, 

Or pierce through his nose with a snare? 

Job, xl, 15-24. 

& 

LEVIATHAN 

THE CROCODILE 

Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fish hook? 

Or press down his tongue with a cord? 

Canst thou put a rope into his nose? 

Or pierce his jaw with a hook? 

Will he make many supplications unto thee? 

Or will he speak soft words unto thee? 

Will he make a covenant with thee, 

That thou shouldst take him for a servant for ever? 

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? 

Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 

Shall the bands of fishermen make traffic of him? 

Shall they part him among the merchants? 



8 Old Testament Readings 

• 

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? 

Or his head with fish spears? 

Lay thine hand upon him; 

Remember the battle, and do so no more. 

Behold, the hope of him is in vain: 

Shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 

None is so fierce that he dare stir him up: 

Who then is he that can stand before me? 

Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? 

Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 

I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, 

Nor his mighty strength, nor his comely proportion. 

Who can strip off his outer garment? 

Who shall come within his double bridle? 

Who can open the doors of his face? 

Round about his teeth is terror. 

His strong scales are his pride, 

Shut up together as with a close seal. 

One is so near to another, 

That no air can come between them. 

They are joined one to another, 

They stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 

His neesings flash forth light, 

And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 

Out of his mouth go burning torches, 

And sparks of fire leap forth. 

Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, 

As of a seething pot and burning rushes. 

His breath kindleth coals, 

And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 

In his neck abideth strength, 

And terror danceth before him. 

The flakes of his flesh are joined together: 

They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved. 

His heart is as firm as a stone; 

Yea, firm as the nether millstone. 

When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: 



Old Testament Readings 9 

# 

By reason of consternation they are beside themselves. 

If one lay at him with a sword, it cannot avail ; 

Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 

He counteth iron as straw, 

And brass as rotten wood. 

The arrow cannot make him flee: 

Slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 

Clubs are counted as stubble: 

He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. 

His underparts are like sharp potsherds: 

He spreadeth as it were a threshing wain upon the mire. 

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: 

He maketh the sea like ointment. 

He maketh a path to shine after him; 

One would think the deep to be hoary. 

Upon earth there is not his like, 

That is made without fear. 

He beholdeth everything that is high: 

He is king over all the sons of pride. 

Job, xli. 



THE PARABLE OF THE EAGLES 

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son 
of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the 
house of Israel ; and say, Thus saith the Lord God : 

A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full 
of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Leb- 
anon, and took the top of the cedar : he cropped off the 
topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it into 
a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants. He 
took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a 
fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set 
it as a willow tree. And it grew, and became a 
spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned 



10 Old Testament Readings 

« 

toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: 
so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and 
shot forth sprigs. 

There was also another great eagle with great wings 
and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its 
roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward 
him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water 
it. It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that 
it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear 
fruit, that it might be a goodly vine. Say thou, Thus 
saith the Lord God: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull 
up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that 
it may wither; that all its fresji springing leaves may 
wither; even without great power or much people 
to pluck it up by the roots thereof? Yea, behold, be- 
ing planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, 
w r hen the east wind toucheth it? shall wither in the beds 
where it grew. 

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, say- 
ing, Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what 
these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of 
Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, 
and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to 
Babylon; and he took of the seed royal, and made a 
covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, 
and took away the mighty of the land: that the king- 
dom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but 
that by keeping of his covenant it might stand. But he 
rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into 
Egypt* that they might give him horses and much people. 
Shall he prosper ? shall he escape that doeth such things ? 
shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? 

As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place 
where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose 
oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even 
with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. Neither 
shall Pharaoh with his mighty and great company make 



Old Testament Readings 11 

for him in the war, when they cast up mounts and build 
forts, to cut off many persons. For he hath despised 
the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had 
given his hand, and yet hath done all these things ; he 
shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the Lord God : 
As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my 
covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon 
his own head. And I will spread my net upon him, and 
he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to 
Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass 
that he hath trespassed against me. And all his fugi- 
tives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they 
that remain shall be scattered toward every wind : and 
ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it. 

Thus saith the Lord God : I will also take of the lofty 
top of the cedar, and will set it ; I will crop off from the 
topmost of his young twigs a tender one, and I will plant 
it upon an high mountain and eminent : in the mountain 
of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring 
forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar : and 
under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow r 
of the branches thereof shall they dwell. And all the 
trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought 
down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried 
up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish : 
I the Lord have spoken and have done it. 

Ezek. xvii. 



THE EAGLE 

Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, 

And make her nest on high? 

She dwelleth on the rock, and hath her lodging there, 

Upon the crag of the rock, and the strong hold. 

From thence she spieth out the prey ; 



12 Old Testament Readings 

• 

Her eyes behold it afar off. 

Her young- ones also suck up blood: 

And where the slain are, there is she. 



Job, xxxix, 27-30. 



THE OSTRICH 

The wing of the ostrich rejoiceth ; 

But are her pinions and feathers kindly? 

For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, 

And warmeth them in the dust, 

And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, 

Or that the wild beast may trample them. 

She is hardened against her young ones, as if they were 

not hers : 
Though her labour be in vain, she is without fear 
Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, 
Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 
What time she lifted up herself on high, 
She scorneth the horse and his rider. 

Job, xxxix, 13-18. 

THE WATERSPRING 

He sendeth forth springs into the valleys; 

They run among the mountains : 

They give drink to every beast of the field ; 

The wild asses quench their thirst. 

By them the fowl of the heaven have their habitation, 

They sing among the branches. 

He watereth the mountains from his chambers: 

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, 

And herb for the service of man; 

That he may bring forth food out of the earth: 



Old Testament Readings 13 

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, 

And oil to make his face to shine, 

And bread that strengthened man's heart. 

The trees of the Lord are satisfied ; 

The cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 

Where the birds make their nests : 

As for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 

Ps. civ, 10-17. 

THE CEDAR OF LEBANON 

A PARABLE 

Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon, with 
fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an 
high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. 
The waters nourished him, the deep made him to grow : 
her rivers ran round about her plantation ; and she sent 
out her channels unto all the trees of the field. There- 
fore his stature was exalted above all the trees of the 
field; and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches 
became long by reason of many waters, when he shot 
them forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests 
in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts 
of the field bring forth their young, and under his 
shadows dwelt all great nations. 

Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of 
his branches : for his root was by many waters. The 
cedars in the garden of God could not hide him : the fir 
trees were not like his boughs, and the plane trees were 
not as his branches; nor was any tree in the garden 
of God like unto him in his beauty. I made him fair 
by the multitude of his branches; so that all the trees 
of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God : Because thou art 
exalted in stature, and he hath set his top among the 
thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I 



14 Old Testament Headings 

• 

will even deliver him into the hand of the mighty one 
of the nations; he shall surely deal with him: I have 
driven him out for his wickedness. And strangers, the 
terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left 
him : upon the mountains and in all the valleys his 
branche: are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all 
the watercourses of the land ; and all the peoples of the 
earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. 
Upon his ruin all the fowls of the heaven shall dwell, 
and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches : 
to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt 
themselves in their stature, neither set their top among 
the thick boughs, nor that their mighty ones stand up in 
their height, even all that drink water: for they are all 
delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, 
in the midst of the children of men, with them that go 
down to the pit. 

Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went 
down to hell I caused a mourning: I covered the deep 
for him, and I restrained the rivers thereof, and the 
great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to 
mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for 
him. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his 
fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend 
into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best 
of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the 
nether parts of the earth. They also went down into 
hell with him unto them that be slain by the sword; 
yea, they that were his arm, that dwelt under his 
shadow in the midst of the nations. 

To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness 
among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought 
down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of 
the earth : thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircum- 
d, with them that he slain by the sword. This is 
Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. 

Ezek. xxxi. 



Old Testament Readings 15 



THE BROKEN VINE 

AN ELEGY 

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, 

Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; 
Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth. 
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up 
thy might, 
And come to save us. 
TURN US AGAIN, O GOD; 
AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE, AND WE 
SHALL BE SAVED. 

O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry 
against the prayer of thy people? 
Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, 
And given them tears to drink in large measure. 
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors : 
And our enemies laugh among themselves. 
TURN US AGAIN, O GOD OF HOSTS ; 
AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE, AND WE 
SHALL BE SAVED. 

Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt : 

Thou didst drive out the nations, and plantedst it. 
Thou preparedst room before it, 

And it took deep root, and filled the land. 
The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, 

And the boughs thereof were like cedars of God. 
She sent out her branches unto the sea, 

And her shoots unto the River. 
Why hast thou broken down her fences, 

So that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? 
The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, 

And the wild beasts of the field feed on it. 



16 Old Testament Readings 

• 

Turn again, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: 

Look doim from heaven, and behold, and visit this 
vine, 

And the stock which thy right hand hath planted, 

And the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. 

It is burned with fire, it is cut down: 

They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, 

Upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for 
thyself. 
So shall we not go back from thee : 

Ouicken thou us, and we will call upon thy name. 
TURN US AGAIN, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS ; 
CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE, AND WE 
SHALL BE SAVED. 

Ps. IXXX. 



THE HEAVENS 

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

And the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

Day unto day uttereth speech, 

And night unto night sheweth knowledge. 

There is no speech nor language; 

Their voice cannot be heard. 

Their line is gone out throughout all the earth, 

And their words to the end of the world. 

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 

And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course. 

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, 

And his circuit unto the ends of it: 

And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 

Ps. xix, 1-6. 



Old Testament Readings 17 



NIGHT AND DAY 

Thou makest darkness, and it is night; 

Wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 

The young lions roar after their prey, 

And seek their meat from God. 

The sun ariseth, they get them away, 

And lay them down in their dens. 

Man goeth forth unto his work 

And to his labour until the evening. 

Ps. civ, 20-23. 



THE STORM 

The Coming of the Storm 

Behold, God is great, and we know him not; 

The number of his years is unsearchable. 

For he draweth up the drops of water, 

Which distill in rain from his vapour: 

Which the skies pour down 

And drop upon man abundantly. 

Yea, can any one understand the spreading of the clouds, 

The thunderings of his pavillion? 

Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; 

And he covereth the bottom of the sea. 

For by these he judgeth the peoples; 

He giveth meat in abundance. 

He covereth his hands with the lightning; 

And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. 

The noise thereof telleth concerning him, 

The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up e 

At this also my heart trembleth, 

And. is moved out of its place. 

Hearken ye unto the noise of his voice, 

And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 



18 Old Testament Headings 

• 

He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, 

And his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 

After it a voice roarelh ; 

He thunderelh with the voice of his majesty: 

And he Stayeth them not when his voice is heard. 

God thundereth marvellously with his voice ; 

Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 

For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; 

Likewise to the shower of rain, 

And to the showers of his mighty rain. 

He sealeth up the hand of every man ; 

That all men whom he hath made may know it. 

Then the beasts go into coverts, 

And remain in their dens. 

The Storm Breaketh 

Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm : 

And cold out of the north. 

By the breath of God ice is given : 

And the breadth of the waters is straightened. 

Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture ; 

He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning: 

And it is turned round about by his guidance, 

That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them 

Upon the face of the habitable world: 

Whether it be for correction, or for his land, 

Or for mercy that he cause it to come. 

The Clearing-up After the Storm 

And now men sec not the light which is bright in the 

skies : 
But the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 
Out of the north cometh golden splendour: 
God hath upon him terrible majesty. 

Job, xxxvi, 26-33; xxxvii, I-13, 21, 22. 



Old Testament Readings 19 



THE RAINBOW 

A TOKEN OF PROMISE 

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which 
I make between me and you and every creature that is 
with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow 
in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant 
between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, 
when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall 
be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, 
which is between me and you and every living creature 
of all flesh ; and the waters shall no more become a flood 
to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud : 
and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlast- 
ing covenant between God and every living creature of 
all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, 
This is the token of the covenant which I have estab- 
lished between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. 

Gen. ix, 12-17. 



SONG OF THE THUNDERSTORM 

Give unto the Lord, O ye sons of the mighty, 
Give unto the Lord glory and strength. 
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name ; 
.Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters : 
The God of glory thundereth, 
Even the Lord upon many waters. 

Even the voice of the Lord is powerful ; 
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 
The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; 



20 Old Testament Readings 

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Yea. the Lord breakcth in pieces the cedars of 

Lebanon. 
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; 
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox. 

The voice of the Lord cleaveth the flames of fire. 
The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; 
The Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 

The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, 

And strippeth the forests bare : 

And in his temple every thing saith, Glory. 

The Lord sat as king at the Flood ; 
Yea, the Lord sitteth as king for ever. 
The Lord will give strength unto his people; 
The Lord will bless his people with peace. 



Ps. xxix. 



THE SEA 

There is the sea, great and wide, 

Wherein are things creeping innumerable, 

Both small and great beasts. 

There go the ships; 

There is leviathan, whom thou hast formed 

To take his pastime therein. 



A STORM AT SEA 



Ps. civ, 25, 26. 



They that go down to the sea in ships, 
That do business in great waters; 
the works of the Lord, 
And hi- wonders in the deep. 
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, 



Old Testament Readings 21 

+ 

Which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
They mount up to the heaven, 
They go down again to the depths : 
Their soul melteth away because of trouble. 
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, 
And are at their wits' end. 
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, 
And he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
He maketh the storm a calm, 
So that the waves thereof are still. 
Then are they glad because they be quiet ; 
So he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be. 

Ps. cviiy 23-30. 



THE STORY OF CREATION 

AS TOLD IN PROSE IN 
THE BOOK OF GENESIS 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 
And the earth was waste and void ; and the darkness was 
upon the face of the deep : and the spirit of God moved 
upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there 
be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, 
that it was good: and God divided the light from the 
darkness. And God called the light Day, and the dark- 
ness he called Night. And there was evening and there 
was morning, one day. 

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst 
of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the 
waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the 
waters which were under the firmament from the waters 
which were above the firmament: and it was so. And 
God called the firmament Heaven. And there was even- 
ing and there was morning, a second day. 

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be 



22 Old Testament Readings 

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gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land 
appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land 
Earth ; and the gathering together of the waters called 
he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, 
Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and 
fruit tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the 
seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. And the 
earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its 
kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, 
after its kind: and God saw that it was good. And 
there was evening and there was morning, a third day. 

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of 
the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let 
them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and 
years : and let them be for lights in the firmament of the 
heaven to give light upon the earth : and it was so. And 
God made the two great lights ; the greater light to rule 
the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made 
the stars also. And God set them in the firmament 
of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule 
over the day and over the night, and to divide the light 
from the darkness : and God saw that it was good. And 
there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. 

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly 
the moving creature that hath life, and let fowl fly above 
the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God 
created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature 
that moveth, which the water brought forth abundantly, 
after their kinds, and every winged fowl after its kind: 
and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, 
saving, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in 
the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth. And there 
was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living 
creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and 
beast of the earth after its kind: and it was so. And 
God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the 



Old Testament Readings 23 

» 

cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon 
the ground after its kind : and God saw that it was good. 
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our 
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of 
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the 
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping 
thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created 
man in his own image, in the image of God created he 
him; male and female created he them. And God 
blessed them : And God said unto them, Be fruitful, and 
multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and 
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl 
of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon 
the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you 
every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all 
the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a 
tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat: and to 
every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air 
and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein 
there is life, I have given every green herb for meat : and 
it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, 
and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening 
and there was morning, the sixth day. 

And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all 
the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished 
his work which he had made; and he rested on the 
seventh day from all his work which he had made. And 
God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it: because 
that in it he rested from all his work which God had 
created and made. 

These are the generations of the heaven and of the 
earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord 
God made earth and heaven. And no plant of the field 
was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet 
sprung up : for the Lord God had not caused it to rain 
upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the 
ground ; but there went up a mist from the earth, and 



24 Old Testament Readings 

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watered the whole faec of the ground. And the Lord 
( lod formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed 
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a 
living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden east- 
ward, in Eden ; and there he put the man whom he had 
formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to 
grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good 
for food ; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, 
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And 
a river went out of Eden to water the garden ; and from 
thence it was parted, and became four heads. The name 
of the first is Pishon : that is it which compasseth the whole 
land of Havilah, where there is gold ; and the gold of that 
land is good : there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And 
the name of the second river is Gihon : the same is it that 
compasseth the whole land of Cush. And the name of 
the third river is Hiddekel : that is it which goeth in front 
of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. And 
the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden 
of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God 
commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden 
thou mayest freely eat : but of the tree of the knowledge 
of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the day 
that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man 
should be alone ; I will make him an help meet for him. 
And out of the ground the Lord formed every beast of 
the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them 
unto the man to see what he would call them : and what- 
soever the man called every living creature, that was the 
name thereof. And the man gave names to all cattle, 
and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the 
field ; but for man there was not found an help meet for 
him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon 
the man, and he slept ; and he took one of his ribs, and 
ed up the flesh instead thereof: and the rib, which the 
Lord God had taken from the man, made he a woman, 



Old Testament Readings 25 

• 

and brought her unto the man. And the man said, 
This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh : she 
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of 
Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his 
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall 
be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and 
his wife, and were not ashamed. 

Gen. i-iii. 



THE STORY OF CREATION 

AS TOLD IN POETIC FORM IN THE BOOK OF JOB 

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and 

said, 
Who is this that darkeneth counsel, 
By words without knowledge? 
Gird up now thy loins like a man ; 
For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me, 
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the 

earth ? 
Declare, if thou hast understanding. 
Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? 
Or who stretched the line upon it? 
Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? 
Or who laid the corner stones thereof? 
When the morning stars sang together, 
And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 
Or who shut up the sea with doors, 
When it brake forth, and issued out of the womb ; 
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, 
And thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 
And prescribed for it my decree, 
And set bars and doors, 

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further ^ 
And here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 



26 Old Testament Readings 

• 

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, 

And caused the dayspring to know its place; 

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, 

And the wicked be shaken out of it? 

It is changed as clay under the seal ; 

And all things stand forth as a garment : 

And from the wicked their light is withholden, 

And the high arm is broken. 

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? 

Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? 

Hast thou comprehended the breadth of the earth? 

Declare, if thou knowest it all. 

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, 

And as for darkness, where is the place thereof ; 

And that thou shouldst discern the paths to the house 

thereof ? 
Doubtless thou knowest, for thou wast then born, 
And the number of thy days is great! 
Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, 
Or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail, 
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, 
Against the day of battle and war? 
By what way is the light parted, 
Or the east wind scattered upon the earth ? 
Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, 
Or a way for the lightning of the thunder ; 
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is ; 
On the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 
To satisfy the waste and desolate ground; 
And to cause the tender grass to spring forth ? 
Hath the rain a father? 
Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 
Out of whose womb came the ice? 
And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 
The waters are hidden as with stone, 
And the face of the deep is frozen. 
Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, 



Old Testament Readings 27 

» 

Or loose the bands of Orion? 

Canst thou lead forth the Mazzoroth in their season? 

Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train? 

Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? 

Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth? 

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, 

That abundance of waters may cover thee? 

Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, 

And say unto thee, Here we are? 

Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? 

Or who hath given understanding to the meteor? 

Who can number the clouds by wisdom? 

Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 

When the dust runneth into a mass, 

And the clods cleave fast together? 

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? 

Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 

When they couch in their dens, 

And abide in the covert to lie in wait ? 

Who provideth for the raven his food, 

When his young ones cry unto God, 

And wander for lack of meat? 

Job, xxxviiu 



THE STORY OF CREATION 

AS TOLD IN SONG BY KING DAVID 

A FESTAL HYMN 

Chorus 

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous : 

Praise is comely for the upright. 

Give thanks unto the Lord with harp : 

Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings. 

Sing unto him a new song; 

Play skilfully with a loud noise. 



28 Old Testament Readings 



First Semi-chorus 

For the word of the Lord is right ; 

And all his work is done in faithfulness. 

He loveth righteousness and judgment: 

The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord. 
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made ; 

And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 

He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap : 

He layeth up the deeps in storehouses. 
Let all the earth fear the Lord: 

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of 
him. 

For he spake, and it was done; 

He commanded, and it stood fast. 
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought : 

He maketh the thoughts of the people to be of none 
effect. 

The counsel of the Lord standeth fast for ever, 

The thoughts of his heart to all generations. 



Second Semi-chorus 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ; 

The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheri- 
tance. 

The Lord looketh from heaven; 

He beholdeth all the sons of men; 
From the place of his habitation he looketh forth 

Upon all the inhabitants of the earth ; 

(He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, 

That considereth all their works;) 
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host; 

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength; 

An horse is a vain thing for safety ; 

Neither shall he deliver any by his great power: 



Old Testament Readings 29 

m 

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, 
Upon them that hope in his mercy; 
To deliver their soul from death; 
And to keep them alive in famine. 

Chorus 

Our soul hath waited for the Lord : 
He is our help and our shield. 
For our heart shall rejoice in him, 
Because we have trusted in his holy name. 
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, 
According as we have hoped in thee. 

Ps. xxxiii. 



THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND 

EVIL 

IN WHICH IS RECOUNTED THE STORY OF THE FALL OF MAN 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of 
the field which the Lord God had made. And he said 
unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat 
of any tree of the garden? And the woman said unto 
the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we 
may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the 
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat 
of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the 
serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 
for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then 
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, know- 
ing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the 
tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the 
eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one 
wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat ; and she 
gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew 



30 Old Testament Readings 

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that they were naked ; and they sewed fig leaves together, 
and they made themselves aprons. 

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking 
in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and 
his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord 
God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord 
God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where 
art thou ? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, 
and I was afraid, because I was naked ; and I hid my- 
self. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? 
Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee 
that thou shouldst not eat? And the man said, The 
woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of 
the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto 
the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the 
woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 
And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou 
hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and 
above every beast of the field ; upon thy belly shalt thou 
go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and 
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and 
between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, 
and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he 
said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy con- 
ception ; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children ; and 
thy desire shalt be to thy husband, and he shall rule 
over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast 
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of 
the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt 
not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil 
shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also 
and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt 
eat the herb of the field ; in the sweat of thy face shalt 
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for 
out of it wast thou taken : for dust thou art, and unto 
dust shalt thou return. And the man called his wife's 
name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 



Old Testament Readings 31 

» 

And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife coats 
of skin, and clothed them. 

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become 
as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he 
put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and 
eat, and live for ever : therefore the Lord sent him forth 
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence 
he was taken. So he drove out the man ; and he placed 
at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the 
flame of a sword which turneth every way, to keep the 
way of the tree of life. 

Gen. UL 



THE MINER 

Surely there is a mine for silver, 

And a place for gold which they refine. 

Iron is taken out of the earth, 

And brass is molten out of the stone. 

Man setteth an end to darkness, 

And searcheth out of the furthest bound 

The stones of thick darkness and of the shadow of death. 

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; 

They are forgotten of the foot that passeth by; 

They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro. 

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread : 

And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire. 

The stones thereof are the place of sapphires. 

And it hath dust of gold. 

That path no bird of prey knoweth, 

Neither hath the falcon's eye seen it: 

The proud beasts have not trodden it, 

Xor hath the fierce lion passed thereby. 

He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; 

He overturneth the mountains by the roots. 



32 



Old Testament Readings 



He etitteth out channels among the rocks ; 

And his eye seeth every precious thing. 

He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; 

And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. 



Job, xxviii, I -I I. 



THE FARMER 

Doth the plowman plow continually to sow? doth he 
continually open and break the clods of his ground? 
When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not 
cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and 
put in the wheat in rows and the barley in the appointed 
place and the spelt in the border thereof? For his God 
doth instruct him aright, and doth teach him. For the 
fitches are not threshed with a sharp threshing instru- 
ment, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cum- 
min but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the 
cummin with a rod. Bread corn is ground ; for he will 
not ever be threshing it: and though the wheel of his 
cart and his horses scatter it, he doth not grind it. This 
also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is won- 
derful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom. 

Is. xxvixi, 24-29. 



THE SKILFUL WORKMAN 

Now Solomon purposed to build an house for the 
name of the Lord, and an house for his kingdom. And 
Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to 
bear burden-, and fourscore thousand men that were 
hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six 
hundred to oversee them. And Solomon sent to Huram 
the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David 



Old Testament Readings 33 

my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an 
house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. Behold, 
I build an house for the name of the Lord my God, to 
dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of 
sweet spices, and for the continual shewbread, and for 
the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sab- 
baths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of 
the Lord our God. This is an ordinance for ever to 
Israel. And the house which I build is great : for great 
is our God above all gods. But who is able to build 
him an house, seeing the heaven and the heaven of 
heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I 
should build him an house, save only to burn incense 
before him? 

Now therefore send me a man cunning to work in gold, 
and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, 
and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave all 
manner of gravings, to be with the cunning men that 
are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my 
father did provide. Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, 
and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy 
servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon ; and, behold, 
my servants shall be with thy servants, even to prepare 
me timber in abundance : for the house which I am about 
to build shall be wonderful great. And, behold, I will 
give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty 
thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thou- 
sand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of 
wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil. 

Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, 
which he sent to Solomon, Because the Lord loveth his 
people, he hath made thee king over them. Huram said 
moreover, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, that 
made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the 
king a wise son, endued with discretion and understand- 
ing, that should build an house for the Lord, and an 
house for his kingdom. And now I have sent a cunning 



34 Old Testament Headings 

• 

man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, 
the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his 
father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and 
in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in 
purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to 
grave any manner of graving and to devise any device: 
that there may be a place appointed unto him with thy 
cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord 
David thy father. Now therefore the wheat and the 
barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord hath spoken 
of, let him send unto his servants : and we will cut wood 
out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need : and we will 
bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa ; and thou shalt 
carry it up to Jerusalem. 

And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in 
the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David 
his father had numbered them; and they were found an 
hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six 
hundred. And he set three-score and ten thousand of 
them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand that were 
hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six 
hundred overseers to set the people awork. 

//. Chron. it. 



Section II 
PICTURES OF PASTORAL LIFE 

SHOWING THE CUSTOMS OF A PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY PASTO L 
RAL AND AGRICULTURAL IN THEIR EARLY DAYS, THE LIFE 
OF THE TENT, AND OF THE FIELDS, AND OF THE FLOCKS 



THE HERD 

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, 

And look well to thy herds: 

For riches are not for ever ; 

And doth the crown endure unto all generations? 

The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, 

And the herbs of the mountains are carried in. 

The lambs are for thy clothing, 

And the goats are the price of the field: 

And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for 

the food of thy household; 
And maintenance for thy maidens. 



Prov. xxvii, 23-27. 



# 



THE PURCHASE OF THE FIELD 

A DEAL IN REALTY IN THE OLDEN TIME 

And Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came unto 
me, saying, Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum thine 
uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field 
that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine 
to buy it. So Hanamel mine uncle's son came to me in 
the court of the guard according to the word of the 
Lord, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that 
is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin: for 
the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is 
thine; buy it for thyself. 

Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. 
And I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel 
mine uncle's son, and weighed him the money, even 

37 



38 Old Testament Headings 

• 

seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the deed, 
and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed him the 
money in the balances. So I took the deed of the pur- 
chase, both that which was sealed, according to the law 
and custom, and that which was open: and I delivered 
the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, 
the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel mine 
uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that 
subscribed the deed of the purchase, before all the Jews 
that sat in the court of the guard. 

And I charged Baruch before them, saying, Thus 
saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel : Take these 
deeds, this deed of the purchase, both that which is 
sealed, and this deed which is open, and put them in an 
earthen vessel ; that they may continue many days. For 
thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel : Houses 
and fields and vineyards shall yet again be bought in 
this land. 

Jer. xxxii, 6-15. 



THE LAND 

He turneth rivers into a wilderness, 

And watersprings into a thirsty ground; 

A fruitful land into a salt desert, 

For the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 

He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, 

And a dry land into watersprings. 

And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, 

That they may prepare a city of habitation ; 

And sow fields, and plant vineyards, 

And get them fruits of increase. 

He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; 

And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 

Ps. cvii, 33-38. 



Old Testament Readings 39 



THE SONG OF THE WELL 

And from thence they journeyed to Beer: that is the 
well whereof the Lord said unto Moses, Gather the 
people together, and I will give them water. Then sang 
Israel this song: 

Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: 
The well, which the princes digged, 
Which the nobles of the people delved, 
With the sceptre, and with their staves. 

Num. xxi, 16-18. 



THE PROMISED LAND 

A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY 

Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments whicli 
I command thee this day, that ye may be strong, and 
go in and possess the land, whither ye go over to possess 
it; and that ye may prolong your days upon the land, 
which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give unto 
them and to their seed, a land flowing with milk and 
honey. For the land, whither thou goest in to possess 
it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, 
where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy 
foot, as a garden of herbs: but the land whither ye go 
over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and 
drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the 
Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God 
are always upon it, from the beginning of the year 
even unto the end of the year. 

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently 
unto my commandments which I command you this day, 
to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all 



40 Old Testament Readings 

# 

your heart and with all your soul, that I will give the 
rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the 
latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and 
thy wine, and thine oil. And I will give grass in thy 
fields for thy cattle, and thou shalt eat and be full. 

Deut. xi, 8-15. 

THE FIELDS 

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it, 

Thou greatly enriched it ; 

The river of God is full of water: 

Thou providest them corn, 

When thou hast so prepared the earth. 

Thou waterest her furrows abundantly ; 

Thou settlest the ridges thereof: 

Thou makest it soft with showers ; 

Thou blessest the springing thereof. 

Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; 

And thy paths drop fatness. 

They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: 

And the hills are girded with joy. 

The pastures are clothed with flocks; 

The valleys also are covered over with corn ; 

They shout for joy, they also sing. 



Ps. Ixv, 8-13. 



A HAPPY PEOPLE 



When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their 

youth ; 
And our daughters as corner stones hewn after the 

fashion of a palace; 
When our garners are full, affording all manner of store ; 
And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands 

in our fields ; 



Old Testament Readings 41 

« 

When our oxen are well laden; 

When there is no breaking in, and no going forth, 

And no outcry in our street; 

Happy is the people, that is in such case: 

Yea, happy is the people, whose God is the Lord. 

Ps. cxliv, 12-15. 

HOME LIFE 

A FAMILY SONG 

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, 

That walketh in his ways. 
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: 

Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, 

In the innermost parts of thine house: 
Thy children like olive plants, 

Round about thy table. 

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth 
the Lord: 
The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion, 
And thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days 
of thy life; 
Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children. 

Ps. cxxviii. 



A SONG OF THE VINEYARD 

Let me sing for my wellbeloved a song of my beloved 
touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved had a vineyard 
in a very fruitful hill: and he made a trench about it, 



42 Old Testament Readings 






and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with 
the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, 
and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked 
that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth 
wild grapes. 

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of 
Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that 
I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that 
it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 
And now go to ; I will tell you what I will do to my vine- 
yard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall 
be eaten up ; I will break down the fence thereof, and it 
shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste; it shall 
not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers 
and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they 
rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of 
hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his 
pleasant plant: and he looked for judgement, but behold 
oppression ; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 

Is. v, 1-7. 



A BLESSING ON THE LAND OF JOSEPH 

FROM THE FAREWELL BLESSING OF MOSES 

And of Joseph he said, 

Blessed of the Lord be his land; 
For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, 
And for the deep that coucheth beneath, 
And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, 
And for the precious things of the growth of the moons, 
And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, 
And for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 
And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness 
thereof. 



Old Testament Readings 43 

And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush : 
Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, 
And upon the crown of the head of him that was sep- 
arate from his brethren. 
The firstling of his bullock, majesty is his; 
And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox : 
With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even 

the ends of the earth: 
And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, 
And they are the thousands of Manasseh. 

Deut. xxxiii, 13-17. 

THE LAND OF PLENTY 

Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for the Lord 
hath done great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the 
field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for 
the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do 
yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, 
and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he giveth you 
the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come 
down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter 
rain, in the first month. And the floors shall be full 
of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath 
eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the 
palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 
And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall 
praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt 
wondrously with you: and my people shall never be 
ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst 
of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there 
is none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. 
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out 
my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your 
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream 



44 Old Testament Readings 

dreams, your young men shall see visions : and also upon 
the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will 
I pour out my spirit. 

Joel, U, 21-29. 

THE DROUGHT 

Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants 
of the land. Hath this been in your days, or in the days 
of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let 
your children tell their children, and their children 
another generation. 

That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust 
eaten ; and that which the locust hath left hath the canker- 
worm eaten ; and that which the cankerworm hath left 
hath the caterpillar eaten. 

Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye 
drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is 
cut off from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon 
my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the 
teeth of a lion, and he hath the jaw teeth of a great 
lion. He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig 
tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the 
branches thereof are made white. 

Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the 
husband of her youth. The meal offering and the drink 
offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the 
priests, the Lord's ministers, mourn. The field is wasted, 
the land mourneth ; for the corn is wasted, the new wine 
is dried up, the oil languisheth. Be ashamed, O ye hus- 
bandmen, howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for 
the barley ; for the harvest of the field is perished. The 
vine is withered and the fig tree languisheth ; the pome- 
granate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even 
all the trees of the field are withered: for joy is withered 
away from the sons of men. 



Old Testament Readings 45 

• 

Gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament, ye priests ; 
howl, ye ministers of the altar ; come, lie all night in sack- 
cloth, ye ministers of my God : for the meal offering and 
the drink offering is withholden from the house of your 
God. Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather 
the old men and all the inhabitants of the land unto the 
house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord. 
Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, 
and as destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Is 
not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and glad- 
ness from the house of our God ? 

The seeds rot under their clods; the garners are laid 
desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is 
withered. How do the beasts groan ! the herds of cattle 
are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the 
flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Lord, to thee do 
I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the 
wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the 
field. Yea, the beasts of the field pant unto thee: for 
the water brooks are dried up, and the fire hath devoured 
the pastures of the wilderness. 

Joel, L 



THE DESERT 

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peo- 
ples: let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof; the 
world, and all things that come forth of it. For the 
Lord hath indignation against all the nations, and fury 
against all their host: he hath utterly destroyed them, 
he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain 
also shall be cast out, and the stink of their carcases shall 
come up, and the mountains shall be melted with their 
blood. 

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the 
heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll : and all their 



46 Old Testament Readings 

• 

host shall fade away, as the leaf fadeth from the vine, 
and as a fading leaf from the fig tree. For my sword 
hath drunk its fill in heaven : behold, it shall come down 
upon Edom, and upon the people of my curse, to judge- 
ment. 

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made 
fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, 
with the fat of kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a 
sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land 
of Edom. And the wild oxen shall come down with 
them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land 
shall be drunken with blood, and their dust made fat 
with fatness. For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, 
the year of recompense in the controversy of Zion. 

And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, 
and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof 
shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched 
night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: 
from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none 
shall pass through it for ever and ever. But the pelican 
and the porcupine shall possess it; and the owl and the 
raven shall dwell therein: and he shall stretch over it 
the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness. 

They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but 
none shall be there ; and all her princes shall be nothing. 
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and 
thistles in the fortresses thereof : and it shall be an hab- 
itation of jackals, a court for ostriches. And the wild 
beasts of the desert shall meet with the wolves, and the 
satyr shall cry to his fellow ; yea, the night-monster 
shall settle there, and shall find her a place of rest. 
There shall the arrowsnake make her nest, and lay, and 
hatch, and gather under her shadow: yea, there shall 
the kites be gathered, every one with her mate. Seek 
ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of 
these shall be missing, none shall want her mate: for 
my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath 



Old Testament Readings 47, 

• 

gathered them. And he hath east the lot for them, 
and his hand hath divided it unto them by line : they shall 
possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall 
they dwell therein. 

Is. xxxiv* 



THE SHEPHERDS 

A PARABLE 

Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed them- 
selves ! should not the shepherds feed the sheep ? Ye eat 
the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fat- 
lings ; but ye feed not the sheep. The diseased have ye 
not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was 
sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken,, 
neither have ye brought again that which was driven 
away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but 
with force and with rigour have ye ruled over them. 
And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd : 
and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, and 
were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the 
mountains, and upon every high hill : yea, my sheep were 
scattered upon all the face of the earth; and there was 
none that did search or seek after them. 

Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 
As I live, saith the Lord God, surely forasmuch as my 
sheep became a prey, and my sheep became meat to all 
the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd, 
neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the 
shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my sheep, there- 
fore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus 
saith the Lord God : Behold, I am against the shepherds ; 
and I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause 
them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the 
shepherds feed themselves any more; and I will deliver 



48 Old Testament Readings 

• 

my sheep from their mouth, that they may not be meat 
for them. 

For thus saith the Lord God : Behold, I myself, even 
I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is 
among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek 
out my sheep ; and I will deliver them out of all places 
whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark 
day. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and 
gather them from the countries, and will bring them into 
their own land ; and I will feed them upon the mountains 
of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited 
places of the country. I will feed them with good pas- 
ture, and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall 
their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold, 
and on fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains 
of Israel. I myself will feed my sheep, and I will cause 
them to lie down, saith the Lord God. 

I will seek that which was lost, and will bring again 
that which was driven away, and will bind up that which 
was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: 
and the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed 
them in judgement. 

And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God : 
Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, as well the 
rams as the he-goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto 
you to have fed upon the good pasture, but ye must tread 
down with your feet the residue of your pasture? and 
to have drunk of the clear waters, but ye must foul the 
residue with your feet? And as for my sheep, they eat 
that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they 
drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them: Be- 
hold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and the 
lean cattle. Because ye thrust with side and with 
shoulder, and push all the diseased with your horns, till 
ye have scattered them abroad; therefore will I save my 



Old Testament Readings 49 

m 

flock, and they shall no more be a prey ; and I will judge 
between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shep- 
herd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant 
David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shep- 
herd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant 
David prince among them ; I the Lord have spoken it. 

And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will 
cause evil beasts to cease out of the land : and they shall 
dwell securely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 
And I will make them and the places round about my 
hill a blessing ; and I will cause the shower to come down 
in its season; there shall be showers of blessing. And 
the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth 
shall yield her increase, and they shall be secure in their 
land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I 
have broken the bars of their yoke, and have delivered 
them out of the hand of those that served themselves of 
them. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, 
neither shall the beast of the earth devour them; but 
they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them 
afraid. 

And I will raise up unto them a plantation for re- 
nown, and they shall no more be consumed with famine 
in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any 
more. And they shall know that I the Lord their God 
am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my 
people, saith the Lord God. And ye my sheep, the sheep 
of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the 
Lord God. 

Ezek. xxxiv. 



THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE DESERT 

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad ; 
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with the 



50 Old Testament Headings 



joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given 
unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall 
see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God. 

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble 
knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be 
strong, fear not : behold, your God will come with venge- 
ance, with the recompense of God; he will come and 
save you. 

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the 
ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the 
lame man leap as the hart, and the tongue of the dumb 
shall sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, 
and streams in the desert. And the glowing sand shall 
become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: 
in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be 
grass with reeds and rushes. 

And an high way shall be there, and a way, and it 
shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall 
not pass over it ; but it shall be for those : the wayfaring 
men, yea fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be 
there, nor shall any ravenous beast go thereon, they shall 
not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 
and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come 
with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon 
their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sor- 
row and sighing shall flee away. 

Is. XXXV. 



THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM 

THE SONG OF THE SHEPHERD 

The Lord is my shepherd; 
I shall not want. 

lie maketb me to lie down in green pastures: 
He leadeth me beside the still waters. 






Old Testament Readings 51 

« 

He restoreth my soul: 

He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for 
hie name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 

shadow of death, 
I will fear no evil; 
For thou art with me: 
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before me 
In the presence of mine enemies: 
Thou hast anointed my head with oil; 
My cup runneth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days 

of my life: 
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 

Ps. xxiii. 



JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS 

THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERD LAD 
WHO WAS SOLD INTO BONDAGE 

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the 
flock with his brethren; and he was a lad with the sons 
of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's 
wives : and Joseph brought the evil report of them unto 
their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all 
his children, because he was the son of his old age: 
and he made him a coat of many colours. And his 
brethren saw that their father loved him more than all 
his brethren ; and they hated him, and could not speak 
peaceably unto him. 

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his 



52 Old Testament Readings 

• 

brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he 
said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I 
have dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in 
the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; 
and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and made 
obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, 
Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou have 
dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more 
for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed 
yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and 
said, Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream; and, behold, 
the sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to 
me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren ; 
and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is 
this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy 
mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down our- 
selves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied 
him ; but his father kept the saying in mind. 

And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in 
Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy 
brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will 
send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. 
And he said to him, Go now, see whether it be well with 
thy brethren, and well with the flock; and bring me word 
again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and 
he came to Shechem. And a certain man found him, 
and, behold, he was wandering in the field : and the man 
asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, 
I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they are 
feeding the flock. And the man said, They are departed 
hence : for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And 
Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in 
Dothan. And they saw him afar off, and before he came 
near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 
And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer 
cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and 
cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil 



Old Testament Readings 53 

• 

beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will 
become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and de- 
livered him out of their hand; and said, Let us not take 
his life. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; 
cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay 
no hand upon him : that he might deliver him out of their 
hand, to restore him to his father. 

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his 
brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat 
of many colours that was on him; and they took him, 
and cast him into the pit : and the pit was empty, there 
was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread: 
and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a 
travelling company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, 
with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, 
going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto 
his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and 
conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the 
Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he 
is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened 
unto him. And there passed by Midianites, merchant- 
men; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the 
pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces 
of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. And 
Reuben returned unto the pit: and, behold, Joseph was 
not in the pit ; and he rent his clothes. And he returned 
unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, 
whither shall I go? And they took Joseph's coat, and 
killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; and 
they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it 
to their father ; and said, This have we found : know now 
whether it be thy son's coat or not. And he knew it, 
and said, It is my son's coat ; an evil beast hath devoured 
him ; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces. And Jacob 
rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and 
mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and 
all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused 



«Vt Old Testament Headings 

• 

to be comforted ; and he said, For I will go down to the 
grave to my son mourning. And his father wept for 
him. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto 
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the 
guard. 

Gen. xxxvii, 2-36, 



PHARAOH'S DREAM 

THE SEVEN FULL YEARS AND THE SEVEN YEARS OF 

FAMINE — A STORY OF EGYPT, THE GRANARY 

OF THE EAST 

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, 
that Pharaoh dreamed : and, behold, he stood by the river. 
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, 
well favoured and fatfleshed; and they fed in the reed- 
grass. And, behold, seven other kine came up after 
them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; 
and stood by the other kine on the brink of the river. 
And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the 
seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 
And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, 
seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and 
good. And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with' 
the east wind, sprung up after them. And the thin ears 
swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And 
Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 

And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was 
troubled ; and he sent and called for all the magicians 
of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh 
told them his dream ; but there was none that could in- 
terpret them unto Pharaoh. Then spake the chief butler 
unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: 
Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward 
in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the 
chief baker: and we dreamed a dream in one night, I 



Old Testament Readings 55 

and he; we dreamed each man according to the inter- 
pretation of his dream. And there was with us there 
a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the 
guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our 
dreams; to each man according to his dream he did 
interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, 
so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he 
hanged. 

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought 
him hastily out of the dungeon : and he shaved himself, 
and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, 
and there is none that can interpret it : and I have heard 
say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst 
interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 
It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of 
peace. And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, In my dream, 
behold, I stood upon the brink of the river : and, behold, 
there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and 
well favoured; and they fed in the reedgrass: and, be- 
hold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very 
ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all 
the land of Egypt for badness: and the lean and ill 
favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: and 
when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that 
they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, 
as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my 
dreams, and, behold, seven ears came up upon one stalk, 
full and good: and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, 
and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 
and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears: 
and I told it unto the magicians; but there was none 
that could declare it to me. 

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh 
is one : what God is about to do he hath declared unto 
Pharaoh. The seven good kine are seven years ; and 
the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 



o(> Old Testament Readings 



And the seven lean and ill favoured kine that came up 
after them are seven years, and also the seven empty 
ears blasted with the cast wind; they shall be seven 
years of famine. That is the thing which I spake unto 
Pharaoh : what God is about to do he hath shewed 
unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of plenty 
throughout all the land of Egypt: and there shall arise 
after them seven years of famine ; and all the plenty 
shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine 
shall consume the land ; and the plenty shall not be known 
in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; 
for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream 
was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing 
is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to 
pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man dis- 
creet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let 
Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the 
land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in 
the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the 
food of these good years that come, and lay up corn 
under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let 
them keep it. And the food shall be for a store to the 
land against the seven years of famine, which shall be 
in the land of Egypt ; that the land perish not during the 
famine. 

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and 
in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto 
his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in 
whom the spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto 
Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, 
there is none so discreet and wise as thou: thou shalt 
he over my house, and according unto thy word shall 
all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be 
greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, 
I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh 
took off the signet ring from his hand, and put it upon 
Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, 



V 



Old Testament Readings 57 

and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him 
to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they 
cried before him, Bow the knee : and he set him over all 
the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I 
am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his 
hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh 
called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah ; and he gave 
him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest 
of On. 

And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. And 
Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before 
Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the 
presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land 
of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth 
brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the 
food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, 
and laid up the food in the cities : the food of the field, 
which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 
And Joseph laid up corn as the sand of the sea, very 
much, until he left numbering; for it was without num- 
ber. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the 
year of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of 
Poti-phera priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph 
called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For, said 
he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my 
father's house. And the name of the second called he 
Ephraim : For God hath made me fruitful in the land 
of my affliction. 

And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land 
of Egypt, came to an end. And the seven years of 
famine began to come, according as Joseph had said: 
and there was famine in all lands ; but in all the land of 
Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt 
was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: 
and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto 
Joseph ; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was 
over all the face of the earth : and Joseph opened all the 



58 Old Testament Readings 

• 

storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the fam- 
ine was sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries 
came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn ; because the 
famine was sore in all the earth. 

Gen. xlu 



ISAAC AND REBEKAH 

A PASTORAL IDYLL 



And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and 
the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abra- 
ham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that 
ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand 
under my thigh : and I will make thee swear by the Lord, 
the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou 
shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of 
the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go 
unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife 
for my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Per- 
adventure the woman will not be willing to follow me 
unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto 
the land from whence thou earnest? And Abraham 
said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son 
hither again. The Lord, the God of heaven, that took 
me from my father's house, and from the land of my 
nativity, and that spake unto me, saying, Unto thy seed 
will I give this land ; he shall send his angel before thee, 
and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence. 
And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then 
thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt 
not bring my son hither again. And the servant put 
his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and 
sware to him concerning this matter. 

And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his 
master, and departed ; having all goodly things of his 
master in his hand ; and he arose, and went to Meso- 



: 



Old Testament Readings 5S 

potamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made the 
camels to kneel down without the city by the well of 
water at the time of evening, the time that women go 
out to draw water. And he said, O Lord, the God of 
my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed 
this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 
Behold, I stand by the fountain of water ; and the daugh- 
ters of the men of the ;city come out to draw water : and let 
it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let 
down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and 
she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink 
also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for 
thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou 
hast shewed kindness unto my master. 

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, 
that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to 
Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abra- 
ham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And 
the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin: and 
she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, 
and came up. And the servant ran to meet her, and 
said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water of thy 
pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, 
and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him 
drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she 
said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have 
done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher 
into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, 
and drew for all his camels. 

And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his 
peace, to know whether the Lord had made his journey 
prosperous or not. And it came to pass, as the camels 
had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of 
half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of 
ten shekels weight of gold; and said, Whose daughter 
art thou? tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy 
father's house for us to lodge in? And she said unto 



60 Old Testament Headings 

• 

him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of MilcaH, 
which she bare unto Nahor. She said moreover unto 
him, We have both straw and provender enough, and 
room to lodge in. And the man bowed his head, and 
worshipped the Lord. And he said, Blessed be the Lord, 
the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken 
his mercy and his truth toward my master: as for me, 
the Lord hath led me in the way to the house of my 
master's brethren. 

And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house ac- 
cording to these words. And Rebekah had a brother, 
and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the 
man, unto the fountain. And it came to pass, when he 
saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, 
and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, say- 
ing, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto 
the man; and, behold, he stood by the :camels at the 
fountain. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the 
Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have pre- 
pared the house, and room for the camels. 

And the man came into the house, and he ungirded 
the camels ; and he gave straw and provender for the 
camels, and water to wash his feet and the men's feet 
that were with him. And there was set meat before 
him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told 
mine errand. And he said, Speak on. And he said, 
I am Abraham's servant. And the Lord hath blessed 
my master greatly ; and he is become great : and he 
hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, 
and menservants and maidservants, and camels and 
asses. And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my 
master when she was old: and unto him hath he given 
all that he hath. And my master made me swear, saying, 
Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters 
of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: but thou shalt 
go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take 



Old Testament Readings 61 

a wife for my son. And I said unto my master, Per- 
adventure the woman will not follow me. And he said 
unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his 
angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt 
take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's 
house : then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou 
comest to my kindred: and if they give her not to thee, 
thou shalt be clear from my oath. And I came this day 
unto the fountain, and said, O Lord, the God of my 
master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which 
I go: behold, I stand by the fountain of water; and let 
it come to pass, that the maiden which cometh forth to 
draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a 
little water of thy pitcher to drink; and she shall say to 
me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy 
camels : let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath 
appointed for my master's son. And before I had done 
speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth 
with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down 
unto the fountain, and drew: and I said unto her, Let 
me drink, I pray thee. And she made haste, and let 
down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, 
and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and 
she made the camels drink also. And I asked her, and 
said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The 
daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare 
unto him: and I put the ring upon her nose, and the 
bracelets upon her hands. And I bowed my head, and 
worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of 
my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way 
to take my master's brother's daughter for his son. And 
now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, 
tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the 
right hand, or to the left. 

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing 
proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee 



82 Old Testament Headings 

« 

bad or g-ood. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, 
ami ^o, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the 
Lord hath spoken. And it ;came to pass, that, when 
Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself 
down to the earth unto the Lord. And the servant 
brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and 
raiment, and gave them to Rebekah : he gave also to her 
brother and to her mother precious things. And they 
did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, 
and tarried all night ; and they rose up in the morning, 
and he said, Send me away unto my master. And her 
brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with 
us a few days, at least ten ; after that she shall go. 
And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord 
hath prospered my way ; send me away that I may go 
to my master. And they said, We will call the damsel, 
and inquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, 
and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And 
she said, I will go. And they sent away Rebekah their 
sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his 
men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, 
Our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of ten thou- 
sands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which 
hate them. And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and 
they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and 
the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 

And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi ; for 
he dwelt in the land of the South. And Isaac went out 
to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up 
his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels com- 
ing. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she 
saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. And she said unto 
the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field 
to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master: and 
she took her veil, and covered herself. And the servant 
told Isaac all the things that he had done. And Isaac 



Old Testament Readings 63 

» 

brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took 
Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: 
and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 

Gen. xxiv. 



JACOB AND RACHEL 

A PASTORAL IDYLL 

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life 
because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife 
of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters 
of the land, what good shall my life do me? And Isaac 
called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and 
said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daugh- 
ters of Canaan. Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the 
house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a 
wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's 
brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee 
fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a com- 
pany of peoples ; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, 
to thee, and to thy seed with thee ; that thou mayest in- 
herit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto 
Abraham. And Isaac sent away Jacob : and he went to 
Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the 
brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. Now 
Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him 
away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; 
and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, 
Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan: 
and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and 
was gone to Paddan-aram: and Esau saw that the 
daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; and 
Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which 
he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's 
son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife. 



64 Old Testament Readings 

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward 
Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried 
there all night, because the sun was set ; and he took one 
of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, 
and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, 
and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of 
it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God 
ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord 
stood above it, and said, I am the Lord, the God of 
Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land 
whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed ; 
and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou 
shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to 
the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy 
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, 
behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever 
thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land ; for 
I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have 
spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, 
and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place ; and I knew 
it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is 
this place! this is none other but the house of God, and 
this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in 
the morning, and took the stone that he had put under 
his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon 
the top of it. And he called the name of that place 
Beth-el: but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, 
and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me 
bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come 
again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord 
be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a 
pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt 
give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. 

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land 
of the children of the east. And he looked, and behold 
a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there 



Old Testament Readings 65 

by it: for out of that well they watered the flocks: and 
the stone upon the well's mouth was great. And 
thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the 
stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and 
put the stone again upon the well's mouth, in its place. 
And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? 
And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto 
them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor ? And they said, 
We know him. And he said unto them, Is it well with 
him? And they said, It is well: and, behold, Rachel 
his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, Lo, 
it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should 
be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and 
feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the 
flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from 
the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. 

While he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her 
father's sheep ; for she kept them. And it came to pass, 
when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his 
mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's 
brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from 
the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his 
mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted 
up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he 
was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son : 
and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, 
when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, 
that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed 
him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban 
all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou 
art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the 
space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because 
thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me 
for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And 
Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was 
Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. And 
Leah's eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and 



66 Old Testament Readings 

• 

well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel ; and he said, 
I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger 
daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her 
to thee, than that I should give her to another man : abide 
with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; 
and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love 
he had to her. 

Gen. xxvii, 46; xxviii; xxix, I -20. 



AN IDYLL OF THE HARVEST FIELDS 

RUTH AND BOAZ 

And it came to pass in the days when the judges 
judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a 
certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the 
country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name 
of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons 
Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. 
And they came into the country of Moab, and continued 
there. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she 
was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives 
of the women of Moab ; the name of the one was Orpah, 
and the name of the other Ruth : and they dwelled there 
about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died both of 
them ; and the woman was left of her two children and 
of her husband. 

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that 
she might return from the country of Moab: for 
she had heard in the country of Moab how that the 
Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. And 
she went forth out of the place where she was, and her 
two daughters in law with her; and they went on their 
way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said 
unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each of you 



Old Testament Readings 67- 

• ■ 

to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, 
i as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The Lord 
grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house 
of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted 
up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Nay, 
but we will return with thee unto thy people. And 
Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go 
with me ? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be 
your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your 
way ; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should 
say, I have hope, if I should even have an husband to- 
night, and should also bear sons; would ye therefore 
tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from 
having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me 
much for your sakes, for the hand of the Lord is gone 
forth against me. And they lifted up their voice, and 
wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but 
Ruth clave unto her. 

And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone 
back unto" her people, and unto her God: return 
thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat 
me not to leave thee, and to return from following 
after thee : for whither thou goest, I will go ; and where 
thou lodgest, I will lodge : thy people shall be my people, 
and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and 
there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more 
also, if aught but death part thee and me. And when 
she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, 
she left off speaking unto her. So they went until they 
came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they 
were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved 
about them, and the woman said, Is this Naomi? And 
she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: 
for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I 
went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again 
empty: why call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath 
testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 



68 Old Testament Readings 
• 

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite, her daughter 
in law, with her, which returned out of the country of 
Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of 
barley harvest. 

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty 
man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech ; and his name 
was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, 
Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of 
corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And 
she said unto her, Go, my daughter. And she went, and 
came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her 
hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging to 
Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. And, behold, 
Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, 
The Lord be with you. And they answered him, the 
Lord bless thee. Then said Boaz unto his servant that 
was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? And 
the servant that was set over the reapers answered and 
said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with 
Naomi out of the country of Moab ; and she said, Let me 
glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the 
sheaves : so she came, and hath continued even from the 
morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the 
house. 

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my 
daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither 
pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. 
Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go 
thou after them : have I not charged the young men that 
they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go 
unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men 
have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed her- 
self to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found 
grace in thy sight, that thou shouldst take knowledge of 
me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and 
said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou 
bast done unto thy mother in law since the death of 



Old Testament Readings 69 

thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and 
thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come 
unto a people which thou knowest not heretofore. The 
Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given 
thee of the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings 
thou art come to take refuge. Then she said, Let me 
find grace in thy sight, my lord ; for thou hast comforted 
me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thine hand- 
maid, though I be not as one of thine handmaidens. And 
at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of 
the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she 
sat beside the reapers: and they reached her parched 
corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof. 
And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded 
his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the 
sheaves, and reproach her not. And also pull out some 
for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, 
and rebuke her not. 

So she gleaned in the field until even; and she 
beat out that she had gleaned, and it was about an 
ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went into 
the city : and her mother in law saw what she had 
gleaned : and she brought forth and gave to her that she 
had left after she was sufficed. And her mother in law 
said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and 
where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take 
knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law 
with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name 
with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. And Naomi said 
unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, 
who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the 
dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of 
kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen. And Ruth the 
Moabitess said, Yea, he said unto me, Thou shalt keep 
fast by my young men, until they have ended all my har- 
vest. And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, 
It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his 



70 Old Testament Headings 

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maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field. 
So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto 
the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she 
dwelt with her mother in law. 

And Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My 
daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be 
well with thee? And now is there not Boaz our kins- 
man, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he win- 
noweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. Wash thy- 
self therefore, and anoint thee, and get thee down to 
the threshing-floor: but make not thyself known unto the 
man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And 
it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the 
place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and un- 
cover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee 
what thou shalt do. And she said unto her, All 
that thou sayest I will do. And she went down 
unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all 
that her mother in law bade her. And when Boaz 
had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he 
went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and 
she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her 
down. And it came to pass at midnight, that the 
man was afraid, and turning himself: and, behold, a 
woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art thou? 
And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid; for thou 
art a near kinsman. And he said, Blessed be thou of the 
Lord, my daughter: thou hast shewed more kindness in 
the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou 
followest not young men, whether poor or rich. And 
now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that 
thou sayest : for all the city of my people doth know that 
thou art a virtuous woman. And now it is true that I 
am a near kinsman : howbeit there is a kinsman nearer 
than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, 
that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, 
well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do 



Old Testament Readings 71 

© 

the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of 
a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until 
the morning. And she lay at his feet until the morning : 
and she rose up before one could discern another. For 
he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to 
the threshing-floor. And he said, Bring the mantle that 
is upon thee, and hold it ; and she held it : and he meas- 
ured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he 
went into the city. And when she came to her mother 
in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she 
told her all that the man had done to her. And she 
said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he 
said, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. Then said 
she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the mat- 
ter will fall: for the man will not rest, until he have 
finished the thing this day. 

Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down 
there: and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz 
spake came by ; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one ! turn 
aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. 
And he took ten men of the elders of the £ity, and said, 
Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said 
unto the near kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out 
of the country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which 
was our brother Elimelech's: and I thought to disclose 
it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and 
before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, 
redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, 
that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside 
thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem 
it. Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of 
the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the 
Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of 
the dead upon his inheritance. And the near kinsman 
said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own 
inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee; 
for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the custom in 



72 Old Testament Headings 

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former time in Israel concerning redeeming and con- 
cerning exchanging, for to confirm all things; a man 
drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this 
was the manner of attestation in Israel. So the near 
kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he 
drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders, and 
unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have 
bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's 
and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth 
the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to 
be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his 
inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off 
from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place : 
ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were 
in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The 
Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like 
Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of 
Israel : and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be 
famous in Beth-lehem: and let thy house be like the 
house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the 
seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. 
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. 

And she bare a son. And the woman said unto Naomi, 
Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day 
without a near kinsman, and let his name be famous in 
Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and 
a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, 
which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven 
sons, hath borne him. And Naomi took the child, and 
laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the 
women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is 
a son born to Naomi ; and they called his name Obed : he 
is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

Book of Ruth. 



Section III 
PICTURES OF COURT LIFE 

AND OF THE LUXURIOUS MODE OF LIVING IN THE LATTER 

TIMES 



A KING RIDING IN STATE 

THE ROYAL PALANQUIN AND RETINUE OF SOLOMOH" 

Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness 

Like pillars of smoke, 
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, 

With all powders of the merchant? 

Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; 

Threescore mighty men are about it, 
Of the mighty men of Israel. 

They all handle the sword, and are expert in \rar: 
Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, 

Because of fear in the night. 

King Solomon made himself a palanquin 

Of the wood of Lebanon. 
He made the pillars thereof of silver, 

The bottom thereof of gold, 
The seat of it of purple, 

The midst thereof being paved witH love from the 
daughters of Jerusalem. 

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king 
Solomon, 
With the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned 
him 
In the day of his espousals, 

And in the day of the gladness of his heart. 

The Song of Songs, Hi, 6-n. 
75 



:; 



76 Old Testament Readings 



A ROYAL CARAVAN 

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA AND HER TRAIN 
BEARING GIFTS TO KING SOLOMON 

And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of 
Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to 
prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jeru- 
salem with a very great train, with camels that bare 
spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and 
when she was come to Solomon, she communed wit 
him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon tol 
her all her questions: there was not anything hid from 
the king which he told her not. 

And when the Queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom 
of Solomon, and the house that he had built, and the 
meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the 
attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his 
cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the 
house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. 
And she said to the king, It was a true report that I 
heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom. 
Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and 
mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not 
told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame 
which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these 
thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and 
that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, 
which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of 
Israel : because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore 
made he thee king, to do judgement and justice. 

And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents 
of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious 
stones : there came no more such abundance of spices 
as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. 
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from 
Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug- 



Old Testament Readings 77 

# 

trees and precious stones. And the king made of the 
almug-trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for 
the king's house, harps also and psalteries for the singers : 
there came no such almug-trees, nor were seen unto this 
day. And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all 
her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solo- 
mon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and 
went to her own land, she and her servants. 

/. Kings, x, i -14. 



THE RICHES OF KING SOLOMON 

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one 
year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, 
beside that which the chapmen brought, and the traffic 
of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mingled 
people, and of the governors of the country. 

And king Solomon made two hundred targets of 
beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to each 
target. And he made three hundred shields of beaten 
gold; three pounds of gold went to one shield: and the 
king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. 

Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and 
overlaid it with the finest gold. There were six steps 
to the throne, and the top of the throne was round be- 
hind: and there were stays on either side by the place 
of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stay. And 
twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other 
upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any 
kingdom. 

And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, 
and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon 
were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was nothing 
accounted of in the days of Solomon. For the king had 
at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram : once 
every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing 



78 Old Testament Readings 

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gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. So 
king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in 
riches and in wisdom. And all the earth sought the pres- 
ence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put 
in his heart. And they brought every man his present, 
vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and 
armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by 
year. 

And Solomon gathered together chariots and horse- 
men : and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, 
and twelve thousand horsemen, which he bestowed in 
the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And 
the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and 
cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in 
the lowland for abundance. And the horses which Solo- 
mon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king's 
merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price. 
And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six 
hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred 
and fifty : and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for 
the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their 
means. 

/. Kings, x, 14-29. 

LOVERS OF LUXURY 

IN THE TIME OF THE PROPHET AMOS 

Ye that put away the evil day, and cause the seat of 
violence to come near ; that lie upon beds of ivory, and 
stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs 
out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the 
stall ; that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol ; that 
devise for themselves instruments of music, like David; 
that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the 
chief ointments ; but they are not grieved for the affliction 
of Joseph. Therefore now shall they go captive with 



Old Testament Readings 79 

© 

the first that go captive, and the revelry of them that 
stretched themselves shall pass away. 

Amos, vi, 3-7. 

WOMEN OF JERUSALEM 

AND THE RICHNESS OF THEIR ATTIRE 
IN THE TIME OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH 

Moreover the Lord said, Because the daughters of 
Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks 
and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and 
making a tinkling with their feet; therefore the Lord 
will smite with a scab the £rown of the head of the 
daughters of Zion. In that day the Lord will take away 
the bravery of their anklets, and the cauls, and the 
crescents ; the pendants, and the bracelets, and the muf- 
flers ; the headtires, and the ankle chains, and the sashes, 
and the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the rings, and 
the nose jewels ; the festival robes, and the mantles, and 
the shawls, and the satchels; the hand mirrors, and the 
fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils. And it shall 
come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be 
rottenness; and instead of a girdle a rope; and instead 
of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a 
girding of sackcloth : branding instead of beauty. 

Is. Hi, 16-24. 

THE ROMANCE OF COMMERCE 

THE DESCRIPTION OF A TRADING NATION 
OF BIBLICAL TIMES EXEMPLIFIED IN THE 
MARITIME CITY TYRE OF THE PHOENICIANS 

O thou that dwellest at the entry of the sea, which art 
the merchant of the peoples unto many isles, thus saith 



80 Old Testament Readings 

• 

the Lord God : Thou, O Tyre, hast said, I am perfect 
in beauty. Thy borders arc in the heart of the seas, 
thy builders have perfected thy beauty. They have 
made all thy planks of fir trees from Senir: they have 
taken cedars from Lebanon to make a mast for thee. Of 
the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; they 
have made thy benches of ivory inlaid in boxwood, from 
the isles of Kittim. Of fine linen with broidered work 
from Egypt was thy sail, that it might be to thee for an 
ensign ; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was 
thine awning. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad 
were thy rowers: thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, 
they were thy pilots. The ancients of Gebal and the 
wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships 
of the sea with their mariners were in thee to exchange 
thy merchandise. 

Persia and Lud and Put were in thine army, thy men 
of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they 
set forth thy comeliness. The men of Arvad with thine 
army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gam- 
madim were in thy towers: they hanged their shields 
upon thy walls round about; they have perfected thy 
beauty. 

Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude 
of all kinds of riches ; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, 
they traded for thy wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, 
they were thy traffickers : they traded the persons of men 
and vessels of brass for thy merchandise. They of the 
house of Togarmah traded for thy wares with horses 
and warhorses and mules. The men of Dedan were thy 
traffickers: many isles were the mart of thine hand: they 
brought thee in exchange horns of ivory and ebony. 
Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of 
thy handy works: they traded for thy wares with 
emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and 
coral, and rubies. Judah, and the land of Israel, they 
were thy traffickers: they traded for thy merchandise 



Old Testament Readings 81 

wheat of Minnith, and pannag, and honey, and oil, and 
balm. Damascus was thy merchant for the multitude 
of thy handyworks, by reason of the multitude of all 
kinds of riches; with the wine of Helbon, and white 
wool. Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares : 
bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were among thy mer- 
chandise. Dedan was thy trafficker in precious cloths 
for riding. Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they 
were the merchants of thy land ; in lambs, and rams, and 
goats, in these were they thy merchants. The traffickers 
of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy traffickers: they 
traded for thy wares with chief of all spices, and with all 
precious stones, and gold. Haran and Cannah and Eden, 
the traffickers of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, they were 
thy traffickers. These were thy traffickers in choice 
wares, in wrappings of blue and broidered work, and in 
chests of rich apparel, bound with cords and made of 
cedar, among thy merchandise. The ships of Tarshish 
were thy caravans for thy merchandise: and thou wast 
replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the 
seas. 

Ezek. xxvii, 3-26. 



A SONG OF LOVES 

A ROYAL MARRIAGE HYMN 

My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter: 

I speak the things which I have made touching the king : 

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 

Thou art fairer than the children of men; 
Grace is poured into thy lips : 

Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. 
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, 

Thy glory and thy majesty. 



82 Old Testament Beading s 

• 

And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, 

In behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness: 

And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 
Thine arrows are sharp; the peoples fall under thee; 

They are in the heart of the king's enemies. 
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: 

A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness : 

Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee 

With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia; 

Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made 
thee glad. 
Kings' daughters are among thy honourable women: 

At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of 
Ophir. 
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear : 

Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; 
So shall the king desire thy beauty: 

For he is the Lord; and worship thou him. 
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; 

Even the rich among the people shall intreat thy 
favour. 
The king's daughter within the palace is all glorious : 

Her clothing is inwrought with gold. 
She shall be led unto the king in broidered work: 

The virgins her companions that follow her shall be 
brought unto thee. 
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led: 

They shall enter into the king's palace. 
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, 

Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth. 
I will make thy name to be remembered in all genera- 
tions : 

Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever 
and ever. 

Ps. xlv. 



Old Testament Readings 83 

» 

A PERSIAN COURT IDYLL 

ESTHER AND KING AHASUERUS 

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this 
is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto 
Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty prov- 
inces:) that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus 
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan 
the palace, in the third year of his reign, he made a feast 
unto all his princes and his servants ; the power of Persia 
and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, be- 
ing before him: when he shewed the riches of his glori- 
ous kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty 
many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. And 
when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast 
unto all the people that were present in Shushan the 
palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of 
the garden of the king's palace ; there were hangings of 
white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords 
of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of 
marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a 
pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black mar- 
ble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the 
vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine 
in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. And 
the drinking was according to the law ; none could com- 
pel : for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his 
house, that they should do according to every man's 
pleasure. Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the 
women in the royal house which belonged to king 
Ahasuerus. On the seventh day, when the heart of the 
king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, 
Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and 
Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the 
presence of the king, to bring Vashti the queen before 
the king with the crown royal, to shew the peoples and 



84 Old Testament Readings 

• 

the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But 
the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command- 
ment by the chamberlains : therefore was the king very 
wroth, and his anger burned in him. Then the king said 
to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the 
king's manner toward all that knew law and judgement; 
and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, 
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven 
princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, 
and sat first in the kingdom:) What shall we do unto 
the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not 
done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamber- 
lains? And Memucan answered before the king and 
the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to 
the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the 
peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasu- 
erus. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto 
all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their 
eyes, when it shall be reported. The king Ahasuerus 
commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before 
him, but she came not. And this day shall the princesses 
of Persia and Media which have heard of the deed of the 
queen say the like unto all the king's princes. So shall 
there arise much contempt and wrath. If it please the 
king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, 
and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and 
the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no 
more before the king Ahasuerus ; and let the king give 
her royal estate unto another that is better than she. 
And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be 
published throughout all his kingdom, (for it is great,) 
all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both 
to great and small. And the saying pleased the king 
and the princes; and the king did according to the 
word of Memucan: for lie sent letters into all the king's 
provinces, into every province according to the writing 
thereof, and to every people after their language, that 



Old Testament Readings 85 

every man should bear rule in his own house, and should 
publish it according to the language of his people. 

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus 
was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had 
done, and what was decreed against her. Then said the 
king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be 
fair young virgins sought for the king : and let the king 
appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that 
they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto 
Shushan the palace to the house of the women, under 
the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of 
the women: and let the maiden which pleaseth the king 
be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the 
king; and he did so. 

There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose 
name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, 
the son of Kish, a Benjamite; who had been carried 
away from Jerusalem with the captives which had been 
carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebu- 
chadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And 
he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's 
daughter : for she had neither father nor mother, and the 
maiden was fair and beautiful ; and when her father and 
mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daugh- 
ter. So it came to pass, when the king's commandment 
and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were 
gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody 
of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, 
to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the 
maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him ; 
and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with 
her portions, and the seven maidens, which were meet 
to be given her, out of the king's house: and he re- 
moved her and her maidens to the best place of the house 
of the women. Esther had not shewed her people nor 
her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she 
should not shew it. And Mordecai walked every day 



80 Old Testament Headings 

• 

before the court of the women's house, to know how 
Esther did, and what should become of her. 

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail 
the uncle of Mordeeai, who had taken her for his daugh- 
ter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing 
but what llegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of 
the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in 
the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther 
was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the 
tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh 
year of his reign. And the king loved Esther above all 
the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his 
sight more than all the virgins ; so that he set the royal 
crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of 
Vashti. Then the king made a great feast unto all his 
princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he 
made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, accord- 
ing to the bounty of the king. And when the virgins 
were gathered together the second time, then Mordeeai 
sat in the king's gate. Esther had not yet shewed her 
kindred nor her people; as Mordeeai had charged her: 
for Esther did the commandment of Mordeeai, like as 
when she was brought up with him. In those days, 
while Mordeeai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's 
chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept 
the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the 
king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordeeai, 
who shewed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told 
the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when in- 
quisition w r as made of the matter, and it was found to 
be so, they were both hanged on a tree : and it was writ- 
ten in the book of the chronicles before the king. 

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman 
the son of Hammcdatha the Agagite, and advanced him, 
and set Ins seat above all the princes that were with him. 
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, 

wed down, and did reverence to llaman: for the king 



r Old Testament Readings 87, 

Had so commanded Concerning him. But Mordecai 
bowed not down, nor did him reverence. Then the king's 
servants, that were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, 
Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? 
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, 
and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, 
to see whether Mordecai's matters ;would stand: for he 
had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman; 
saw that Mordecai bowed not: down, nor did him rever- 
ence, then was Haman full of wrath. But he thought 
scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had 
shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman 
sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout 
the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of 
Mordecai. In the first month, which is the month Nisan, 
in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, 
that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and 
from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is 
the month Adar. And Haman said unto king Ahas- 
uerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and 
dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy 
kingdom ; and their laws are diverse from those of every 
people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it 
is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please 
the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and 
I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands 
of those that have the charge of the king's business, to 
bring it into the king's treasuries. And the king took 
his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son 
of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And 
the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, 
the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to 
thee. Then were the king's scribes called in the first 
month, on the thirteenth day thereof, and there was 
written according to all that Haman commanded unto 
the king's satraps, and to the governors that were over 
every province, and to the princes of every people; to 



88 Old Testament Readings 

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every province according to the writing thereof, and 
to every people after their language; in the name of 
the king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with 
the king's ring. And letters were sent by posts into 
all the king's provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause 
to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and 
women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the 
twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take 
the spoil of them for a prey. A copy of the writing, 
that the decree should be given out in every province, 
was published unto all the peoples, that they should 
be ready against that day. The posts went forth in 
haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was 
given out in Shushan the palace: and the king and 
Haman sat down to drink ; but the city of Shushan was 
perplexed. 

Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mor- 
decai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, 
and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with 
a loud and bitter cry: and he came even before the 
king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate 
clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, whither- 
soever the king's commandment and his decree came, 
there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, 
and weeping, and wailing ; and many lay in sackcloth and 
ashes. And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains 
came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly 
grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and 
to take his sackcloth from off him: but he received it 
not. Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's 
chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon 
her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what 
this was, and why it was. So Hathach went forth to 
Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was 
before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all 
that had happened unto him. and the exact sum of money 
that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries 



Old Testament Readings 89 

for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the 
copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in 
Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and 
to declare it unto her; and to charge her that she should 
go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and 
to make a request before him, for her people. And 
Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 
Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a mes- 
sage unto Mordecai, saying: All the king's servants, 
and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that 
whatsoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto 
the king into the inner court, who is not called, there 
is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such 
to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, 
that he may live : but I have not been called to come in 
unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mor- 
decai Esther's words. Then Mordecai bade them re- 
turn answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that 
thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the 
Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this 
time, then shall relief and deliverance arise to the Jews 
from another place, but thou and thy father's house 
shall perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not 
cometh to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then 
Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai, Go, 
gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, 
and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three 
days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast 
in like manner ; and so will I go in unto the king, which 
is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all 
that Esther had commanded him. 

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put 
on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the 
king's house, over against the king's house: and the 
king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over 
against the entrance of the house. And it was so, when 



00 Old Testament Headings 

• 

the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, 
that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held 
out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So 
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 
Then said the king unto her. What wilt thou, queen 
Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee 
even to the half of the kingdom. And Esther said, If 
it seems good ur.to the king, let the king and Haman 
come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for 
him. Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, 
that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king 
and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had pre- 
pared. And the king said, unto Esther at the banquet 
of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted 
thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the 
kingdom it shall be performed. Then answered 
Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; if I 
have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it 
please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my 
request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet 
that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow 
as the king hath said. Then went Haman forth that 
day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw 
Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up nor 
moved for him, he was filled with wrath against Morde- 
cai. Nevertheless Hainan refrained himself, and went 
home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh 
his wife. And Haman recounted unto them the glory 
of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all 
the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how 
he had advanced him above the princes and servants of 
the king. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen 
did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet 
that she had prepared hut myself; and to-morrow also 
am I invited by her together with the king. Yet all 
this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the 
Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then said Zeresh his 



Old Testament Readings 91 

• 

wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be 
made of fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak 
thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon : 
then go thou merrily with the king unto the banquet. 
And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gal- 
lows to be made. 

On that night could not the king sleep; and he com- 
manded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, 
and they were read before the king. And it was found 
written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthan and Teresh, 
two of the king's chamberlains, of those that kept the 
door, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasu- 
erus. And the king said, What honour and dignity 
hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the 
king's servants that ministered unto him, There is noth- 
ing done for him. And the king said, Who is in the 
court? Now Haman was come into the outward court 
of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang 
Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 
And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman 
standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come 
in. So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, 
What shall be done unto the man whom the king de- 
lighteth to honour? Now Haman said in his heart, To 
whom would the king delight to do honour more than 
to myself? And Haman said unto the king, For the 
man whom the king delighteth to honour, let royal ap- 
parel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the 
horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of 
which a crown royal is set: and let the apparel and the 
horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's 
most noble princes, that they may array the man withal 
whom the king delighteth to. honour, and cause him to 
ride on horseback through the street of the city, and 
proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man 
whom the king delighteth to honour. Then the king 
said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and 



92 Old Testament Readings 

• 

the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai 
the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail 
of all that thou has spoken. Then took Haman the 
apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and 
caused him to ride through the street of the city, and 
proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the 
man whom the king delighteth to honour. And Morde- 
cai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted 
to his house, mourning and having his head covered. 
And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his 
friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said 
his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, 
before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed 
of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt 
surely fall before him. While they were yet talking 
with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to 
bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had pre- 
pared. 

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther 
the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the 
second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, 
queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is 
thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall 
be performed. Then Esther the queen answered and 
said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if 
it please the king, let my life be given me at my peti- 
tion, and my people at my request: for we are sold, I 
and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to 
perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bond- 
women, I had held my peace, although the adversary 
could not have compensated for the king's damage. 
Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther 
the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst pre- 
sume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, An adver- 
sary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Ha- 
man was afraid before the king and the queen. And the 
king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and 



Old Testament Readings 93 

o 

went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to 
make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he 
saw that there was evil determined against him by the 
king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden 
into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was 
fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said 
the king, Will he even offer violence to the queen be- 
fore me in the house? As the word went out of the 
king's mouth, they covered Hainan's face. Then said 
Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before 
the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, 
which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good 
for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And 
the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged 
Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Morde- 
cai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. 

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house 
of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And 
Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told 
what he was unto her. And the king took off his ring, 
which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mor- 
decai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Ha- 
man. And Esther spake yet again before the king, and 
fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put 
away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his de- 
vice that he had devised against the Jews. Then the 
king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther 
arose, and stood before the king. And she said, If it 
please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, 
and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleas- 
ing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters 
devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, 
which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the 
king's provinces: for how can I endure to see the evil 
that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure 
to see the destruction of my kindred? Then the king 
Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai 



<U Old Testament Headings 

• 

the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of 
Hainan, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, 
because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also 
to the Jews, as it liketh yon, in the king's name, and seal 
it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written 
in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, 
may no man reverse. Then were the king's scribes 
called at that time, in the third month, which is the 
month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; 
and it was written according to all that Mordecai com- 
manded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the gov- 
ernors and princes of the provinces which are from 
India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven 
provinces, unto every province according to the writing 
thereof, and unto every people after their language, and 
to the Jews according to their writing, and according to 
their language. And he wrote in the name of king Ahas- 
uerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters 
by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were 
used in the king's service, bred of the stud : wherein the 
king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather 
together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, 
and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and 
province that would assault them, their little ones and 
women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon 
one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, 
upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is 
the month Adar. A copy of the writing, that the de- 
cree should be given out in every province, was pub- 
lished unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be 
ready against that day to avenge themselves on their 
enemies. So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that 
were used in the king's service went out, being hastened 
and pressed on, by the king's commandment ; and the 
deer given out in Shushan the palace. And 

Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in 
royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown 



Old Testament Readings 95 

o 

of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and 
the city of Shushan shouted and was glad. The Jews 
had light and gladness, and joy and honour. And in 
every province, and in every city, whithersoever the 
king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews 
had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And 
many from among the people of the land became Jews ; 
for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them. 

Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of 
Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's 
Commandment and his decree drew near to be put in 
execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped 
to have rule over them; whereas it was turned to the 
contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated 
them: the Jews gathered themselves together in their 
cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahas- 
uerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and 
no man could withstand them ; for the fear of them was 
fallen upon all the peoples. And all the princes of the 
provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they 
that did the king's business, helped the Jews; because 
the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them. For Morde- 
cai was great in the king's house, and his fame went 
forth throughout all the provinces : for the man Mordecai 
waxed greater and greater. And the Jews smote all 
their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with 
slaughter and destruction, and did what they would 
unto them that hated them. And in Shushan the palace 
the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. And 
Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha, and Poratha, 
and Adalia, and Aridatha, and Parmashta, and Arisai, 
and Aridai, and Vaizatha, the ten sons of Haman the 
son of Hammedatha, the Jews' enemy, slew they; but 
on the spoil they laid not their hand. On that day the 
number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace 
was brought before the king. And the king said unto 
Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed 



96 Old Testament Headings 

• 

five hundred men in Sluishan the palace, and the ten 
sons of Hainan; what then have they done in the rest 
of the kind's provinces! Now what is thy petition? 
and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request 
further? and it shall be done. Then said Esther the 
queen. If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews 
which are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according 
unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be 
hanged upon the gallows. And the king commanded 
it so to be done : and a decree was given out in Shushan ; 
and they hanged Hainan's ten sons. And the Jews that 
were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the 
fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three 
hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not 
their hand. And the other Jews that were in the king's 
provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for 
their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of 
them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but 
on the spoil they laid not their hand. This was done on 
the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the four- 
teenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day 
of feasting and gladness. But the Jews that were in 
Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day 
thereof, and on the fourteenth day thereof ; and on the 
fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day 
of feasting and gladness. Therefore do the Jews of 
the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the 
fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness 
and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions 
one to another. 

And Mordccai wrote these things, and sent letters 
unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the 
king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, to enjoin them that 
they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, 
and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, as the days 
wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the 



Old Testament Readings 97 

• 

month which was turned unto them from sorrow to 
gladness, and from mourning into a good day : that they 
should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of 
sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 
And the Jews undertook to do so as they had begun, 
and as Mordecai had written unto them ; because Haman 
the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all 
the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, 
and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and 
to destroy them; but when the matter came before the 
king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, 
which he had devised against the Jews, should return 
upon his own head; and that he and his sons should be 
hanged on the gallows. Wherefore they called these 
days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore be- 
cause of all the words of this letter, and of that which 
they had seen concerning this matter, and that which 
had come unto them, the Jews ordained, and took upon 
them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined 
themselves unto them, so it should not fail, that they 
would keep these two days according to the writing 
thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, 
every year; and that these days should be remembered 
and kept throughout every generation, every family, 
every province, and every city; and that these days of 
Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the 
memorial of them perish from their seed. Then Esther 
the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the 
Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second let- 
ter of Purim. And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to 
the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the king- 
dom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, to 
confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, 
according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen 
had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for them- 
selves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings 



98 Old Testament Headings 

and their cry. And the commandment of Esther con- 
firmed these matters of Turini; and it was written in the 
book. 

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, 
and upon the isles of the sea. And all the acts of his 
power and of his might, and the full account of the great- 
ness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, 
are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the 
kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew 
was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the 
Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren; 
seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to 
all his seed. 

Book of, Esther^ 



Section IV 
THE BOOK OF WONDERS 

THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF THE PROPHET DANIEL. 
MASTER OF MAGICIANS TO THE KINGS OF BABYLON 
TOLD IN TEN WONDER TALES, DREAMS AND VISIONS 



DANIEL AND THE KING'S MEAT 

HOW DANIEL WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE KING'S 
WISE MEN 

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of 
Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto 
Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoia- 
kim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the ves- 
sels of the house of God; and he carried them into the 
land of Shinar to the house of his god. And the king 
spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that 
he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even 
of the seed royal and of the nobles; youths in whom 
was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all 
wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding 
science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's 
palace; and that he should teach them the learning and 
the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed 
for them a daily portion of the king's meat, and of the 
wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished 
three years; that at the end thereof they might stand 
before the king. 

Now among these were, of the children of Judah, 
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. And the 
prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto 
Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar ; and to 
Hananiah, of Shadrach; and Mishael, of Meshach; and 
to Azariah, of Abed-nego. But Daniel purposed in his 
heart that he would not defile himself with the king's 
meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he 
requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might 
not defile himself. Now God made Daniel to find favour 

101 






102 Old Testament Readings 

• 

and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. 
And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear 
my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and 
your drink: for why should he see your faces worse 
liking than the youths which are of your own age? so 
should ye endanger my head with the king. Then said 
Daniel to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs 
had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Aza- 
riah : Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days ; and 
let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then 
let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and 
the countenance of the youths that eat of the king's 
meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 

So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved 
them ten days. And at the end of ten days their coun- 
tenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, 
than all the youths that did eat of the king's meat. So 
the steward took away their meat, and the wine that 
they should drink, and gave them pulse. Now as for 
these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill 
in all learning and wisdom : and Daniel had understand- 
ing in all visions and dreams. And at the end of the 
days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, 
the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before 
Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; 
and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hana- 
niah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they be- 
fore the king. And in every matter of wisdom and un- 
derstanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, 
he found them ten times better than all the magicians 
and enchanters that were in all his realm. And Daniel 
continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. 

Dan. u 



Old Testament Readings 103 



KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM 

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchad- 
nezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit 
was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the 
king commanded to call the magicians, and the en- 
chanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to 
tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood 
before the king. And the king said unto them, I have 
dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know 
the dream. Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in 
the Syrian language, O king, live for ever: tell thy ser- 
vants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing 
is gone from me: if ye make not known unto me the 
dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in 
pieces, and your houses shall be made a desolation. 
But if ye shew the dream and the interpretation thereof, 
ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great 
honour: therefore shew me the dream and the interpre- 
tation thereof. They answered the second time and 
said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we 
will shew the interpretation. The king answered and 
said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, be- 
cause ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye 
make not known unto me the dream, there is but one 
law for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt 
words to speak before me, till the time be changed: 
therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can 
shew me the interpretation thereof. The Chaldeans 
answered before the king, and said, There is not a man 
upon the earth that can shew the king's matter; foras- 
much as no king, lord, nor ruler, hath asked such a 
thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. And 
it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is 
none other that can shew it before the king, except the 



104 Old Testament Readings 

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gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. For this cause 
the king was angry and very furious, and commanded 
to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree 
went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they 
sought Daniel and his companions to be slain. Then 
Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to 
Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone 
forth to slay the wise men of Babylon ; he answered and 
said to Arioch, the king's captain, Wherefore is the de- 
cree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the 
thing known to Daniel. And Daniel went in, and de- 
sired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and 
he would shew the king the interpretation. 

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing 
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his com- 
panions: that they would desire mercies of the God of 
heaven concerning the secret ; that Daniel and his com- 
panions should not perish with the rest of the wise men 
of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel 
in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God 
of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the 
name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might 
are his: and he changeth the times and the seasons: 
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings : he giveth wis- 
dom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know 
understanding: he revealeth the deep and secret things: 
he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth 
with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O God of my 
fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast 
now made known unto me what we desired of thee: 
for thou hast made known unto us the king's matter. 
Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king 
had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he 
went and said thus unto him : Bring me in before the 
king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 

Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in 
haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of 



Old Testament Readings 105 

the children of the captivity of Judah, that will make 
known unto the king the interpretation. The king an- 
swered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz- 
zar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream 
which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 
Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret 
which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, 
enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, shew unto the 
king ; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, 
and he hath made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar 
what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the 
visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these : as for thee, 
O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, 
what should come to pass hereafter: and he that re- 
vealeth secrets hath made known to thee what shall come 
to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to 
me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, 
but to the intent that the interpretation may be made 
known to the king, and that thou mayest know the 
thoughts of thy heart. 

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This 
image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was 
excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was 
terrible. As for this image, his head was of fine gold, 
his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs 
of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron, and part 
of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out with- 
out hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were 
of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces. Then was 
the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, 
broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff 
of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried 
them away, that no place was found for them: and 
the stone that smote the image became a great moun- 
tain, and filled the whole earth. 

This is the dream: and we will tell the interpretation 
thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art king of 



106 Old Testament Readings 

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kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the 
kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; 
and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts 
of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given 
into thine hand, and hath made thee to rule over them 
all : thou art the head of gold. And after thee shall 
arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another 
third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all 
the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as 
iron : forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth 
all things: and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it 
break in pieces and crush. And whereas thou sawest 
the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, 
it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it 
of the strength of iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the 
iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet 
were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall 
be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou 
sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle 
themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not 
cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mix with 
clay. And in the days of those kings shall the God of 
heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be de- 
stroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to 
another people ; but it shall break in pieces and consume 
all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Foras- 
much as thou sawest that a stone was cut out of the 
mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces 
the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the 
great God hath made known to the king what shall come 
to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the in- 
terpretation thereof sure. 

n the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, 

and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should 

offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king 

iwered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is 

the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer 



Old Testament Readings 107 

» 

of secrets, seeing thou hast been able to reveal this 
secret. Then the king made Daniel great, and gave 
him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the 
whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor 
over all the wise men of Babylon. And Daniel requested 
of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon : 
but Daniel was in the gate of the king. 

Dan. ii, 

THE STORY OP 
THE THREE HOLY CHILDREN 

WHO WERE CAST INTO THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE 

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, 
whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth 
thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in 
the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the 
king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, 
and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the coun- 
sellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, 
to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchad- 
nezzar the king had set up. Then the satraps, the 
deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, 
the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the 
provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication 
of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set 
up ; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnez- 
zar had set up. Then the herald cried aloud, To you it 
is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that 
at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, 
sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye 
fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchad- 
nezzar the king hath set up : and whoso f alleth not down 
and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the 



108 Old Testament Headings 

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midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that 
time when all the peoples heard the sound of the comet, 
flute, harp, sackhut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all 
the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and 
worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the 
king had set up. Wherefore at that time certain Chal- 
deans came near, and brought accusation against the 
Jews. . They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the 
king, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a 
decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the 
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and 
all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden 
image: and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, 
shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 
There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over 
the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abed-nego ; these men, O king, have not re- 
garded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the 
golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchad- 
nezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shad- 
rach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought 
these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered 
and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor 
worship the golden image which I have set up? Now 
if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the 
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all 
kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image 
which I have made, well : but if ye worship not, ye shall 
be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery 
furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out 
of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, an- 
swered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have 
no need to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our 
God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the 
burning fiery furnace ; and he will deliver us out of thine 
hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O 



Old Testament Readings 100 

king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the 
golden image which thou hast set up. Then was Nebu- 
chadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was 
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: 
therefore he spake, and commanded that they should 
heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to 
be heated. And he commanded certain mighty men that 
were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 
Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, 
and their mantles, and their other garments, and were 
cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. There- 
fore because the king's commandment was urgent, and 
the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those 
men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning 
fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was 
astonied, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto 
his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into 
the midst of the fire? They answered, and said unto 
the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I 
see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and 
they have no hurt: and the aspect of the fourth is like 
a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came nearer 
to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace : he spake and 
said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants 
of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither. 
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth 
out of the midst of the fire. And the satraps, the 
deputies, and the governors, and the king's counsellors, 
being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire 
had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of 
their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor 
had the smell of fire passed on them. Nebuchadnezzar 
spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and de- 



110 Old Testament Headings 

• 

livered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed 
the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they 
might not serve nor worship any god, except their own 
God. Therefore I make a decree, that every people, 
nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against 
the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall 
be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a desola- 
tion : because there is no other god that is able to deliver 
after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Me- 
shach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon. 

Dan. Hi. 



THE TREE THAT WAS CUT DOWN 

THE SECOND DREAM OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING 

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, 
and languages, that dwell in all the earth ; peace be multi- 
plied unto you. It hath seemed good unto me to shew 
the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath 
wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and 
how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an ever- 
lasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation 
to generation. 

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and 
flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made 
me afraid ; and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions 
of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to 
bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that 
they might make known unto me the interpretation of 
the dream. Then came in all the magicians, the en- 
chanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told 
the dream before them ; but they did not make known 
unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last 
Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, 
according to the name of my god, and in whom is the 



Old Testament Readings 111 

• 

spirit of the holy gods : and I told the dream before him, 
saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because 
I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and 
no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream 
that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. Thus 
were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and 
behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height 
thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to 
the end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair, 
and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: 
the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the 
fowls of the heaven dwelt in the branches thereof, and 
all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head 
upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one 
came down from heaven. He cried aloud, and said thus, 
Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off 
his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away 
from under it, and the fowls from his branches. Never- 
theless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even 
with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the 
field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let 
his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; 
let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's 
heart be given unto him: and let seven times pass over 
him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers^ 
and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the 
intent that the living may know that the Most High 
ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomso- 
ever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men. 
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen : and thou, 
O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch 
as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make 
known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, 
for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. 

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was 
astonied for awhile, and his thoughts troubled him. The 
king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, 



112 Old Testament Readings 

• 

or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar an- 
swered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that 
hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adver- 
saries. The tree that thou savvest, which grew, and was 
Strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the 
sight thereof to all the earth; whose leaves were fair, 
and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all ; 
under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose 
branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 
it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: 
for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, 
and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas 
the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down 
from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and de- 
stroy it ; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots there- 
of in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in 
the tender grass of the field ; and let it be wet with the 
dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts 
of the field, till seven times pass over him; this is the 
interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most 
High, which is come upon my lord, the king: that thou 
shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with 
the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat 
grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of heaven, 
and seven times shall pass over thee ; till thou know that 
the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth 
it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded 
to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall 
be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that 
the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel 
be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by 
righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to 
the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tran- 
quillity. 

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At 
the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal 
palace of Babylon. The king spake and said, Is not 



Old Testament Readings 113 

this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal 
dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the 
glory of my majesty? While the word was in the king's 
mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king 
Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: the kingdom is 
departed from thee. And thou shalt be driven from 
men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the 
field : thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven 
times shall pass over thee ; until thou know that the Most 
High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to 
whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing ful- 
filled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from 
men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet 
with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like 
eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted 
up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding re- 
turned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I 
praised and honoured him that liveth for ever; for his 
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom 
from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants 
of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth ac- 
cording to his will in the army of heaven, and among 
the inhabitants of the earth : and none can stay his hand, 
or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time 
mine understanding returned unto me ; and for the glory 
of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned 
unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto 
me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excel- 
lent greatness was added unto me. Now I Nebuchad- 
nezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven ; 
for all his works are truth, and his ways judgement: 
and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. 

Dan. iv. 



114 Old Testament Readings 

• 

THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR 

AND THE HANDWRITING THAT APPEARED ON THE WALL 

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand 
of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Bel- 
shazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring 
the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his 
father had taken out of the temple which was in Jeru- 
salem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his 
concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought 
the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of 
the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the 
king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank 
in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of 
gold, and of silver, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In 
the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, 
and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister 
of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the 
part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's [counten- 
ance was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him ; 
and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees 
smote one against another. The king cried aloud to 
bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the sooth- 
sayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of 
Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew 
me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with pur- 
ple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall 
be the third ruler of the kingdom. Then came in all 
the king's wise men : but they could not read the writing, 
nor make known to the king the interpretation. Then 
was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his counten- 
ance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. 
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and 
his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spake 
and said, O king, live for ever; let not thy thoughts 
trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: there 



Old Testament Readings 115 

is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the 
holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and un- 
derstanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, 
was found in him: and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy 
father, the king, I say, thy father, made him master of 
the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 
forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and un- 
derstanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of 
dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found 
in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. 
Now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpre- 
tations. 

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The 
king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, 
which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom 
the king my father brought out of Judah ? I have heard 
of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that 
light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found 
in thee. And now the wise men, the enchanters, have 
been brought in before me, that they should read this 
writing, and make known unto me the interpretation 
thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of 
the thing. But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give 
interpretations, and dissolve doubts : now if thou canst 
read the writing, and make known to me the interpreta- 
tion thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have 
a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third 
ruler of the kingdom. Then Daniel answered and said, 
before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy 
rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing 
unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 
O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar 
thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and 
majesty: and because of the greatness that he gave him, 
all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and 
feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom 
he would he kept alive ; and whom he would he raised up, 



110 Old Tcsta?n cut Readings 

anil whom lie would he put clown. But when his heart 
Was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened that he dealt 
proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and 
they took his glory from him: and he was driven from 
the sons of men ; and his heart was made like the beasts, 
and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed 
with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew 
of heaven: until he knew that the Most High God ruleth 
in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it 
whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, 
hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all 
this ; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven ; 
and they have brought the vessels of his house before 
thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concu- 
bines, have drunk wine in them ; and thou hast praised 
the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and 
stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God 
in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, 
hast thou not glorified : then was the part of the hand 
sent before him, and this writing was inscribed. And 
this is the writing that was inscribed.* 



M 


U 


P 


E 


L 


H 


N 


E 


A 


E 


K 


R 


M 


E 


S 


E 


T 


I 


N 


E 


N 



This is the interpretation of the thing: 
MENE 

God hath NUMBERED thy kingdom, 
And brought it to an end. 

* Read down, up, down. 



Old Testament Readings 117 



TEKEL 

Thou art WEIGHED in the balances, 
And art found wanting. 

PERES 

Thy kingdom is DIVIDED, 

And given to the Medes and Persians. 

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel 
with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and 
made proclamation concerning him, that he should be 
the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night Belshaz- 
zar the Chaldean king was slain. And Darius the Mede 
received the kingdom, being about threescore and two 
years old. 

Dan. v. 



THE STORY OF 
DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred 
and twenty satraps, which should be throughout the whole 
kingdom : and over them three presidents of whom Daniel 
was one; that these satraps might give account unto 
them, and that the king should have no damage. Then 
this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and 
the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and 
the king sought to set him over the whole realm. Then 
the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion 
against Daniel as touching the kingdom ; but they could 
find none occasion nor fault : forasmuch as he was faith- 
ful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion 
against this Daniel, except we find it against him con- 
cerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and 



118 Old Testament Headings 

• 

embled together to the king, and said thus 
unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents 
of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsel- 
lors and the governors, have consulted together to estab- 
lish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that 
whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for 
thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into 
the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict, 
and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according 
to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the inter- 
dict. 

And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, 
he went into his house; (now his windows were open in 
his chamber toward Jerusalem;) and he kneeled upon 
his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks 
before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men 
assembled together, and found Daniel making petition 
and supplication before his God. Then they came near, 
and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict; 
Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that 
shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty 
days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den 
of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is 
true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, 
which altereth not. Then answered they and said before 
the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the 
captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the 
interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition 
three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these 
words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel 
to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of 
the sun to rescue him. Then these men assembled to- 
gether unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O 
king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no 
interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be 
changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought 



Old Testament Readings 119 

Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the 
king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou 
servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone 
was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and 
the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the 
signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed con- 
cerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and 
passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of 
music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. 
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went 
in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came near 
unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice ; 
the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, O Daniel, 
servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest 
continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then 
said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My 
God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, 
and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him 
innocency was found in me ; and also before thee, O king, 
have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad, 
and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of 
the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and 
no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had 
trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and they 
brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they 
cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and 
their wives: and the lions had the mastery over them, 
and brake all their bones in pieces, or ever they came at 
the bottom of the den. 

Dan. vi. 



THE VISION OF 
THE FOUR GREAT BEASTS 

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel 
had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed : then 



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wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. 
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, 
behold, the four winds of heaven brake forth upon the 
great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, 
diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and 
had eagle's wings : I beheld till the wings thereof were 
plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made 
to stand upon two feet like a man, and a man's heart was 
given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to 
a bear, and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs 
were in his mouth between his teeth : and they said thus 
unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, 
and lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon the back 
of it four wings of a fowl ; the beast had also four heads ; 
and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the 
night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and 
powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron 
teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the 
residue with his feet: and it was diverse from all the 
beasts that were before it ; and it had ten horns. I con- 
sidered the horns, and, behold, there came up among 
them another horn, a little one, before which three of 
the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, be- 
hold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and 
a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till thrones 
were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: 
his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head 
like pure wool ; his throne was fiery flames, and the 
wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and 
came forth from before him : thousand thousands min- 
istered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand 
stood before him: the judgement was set, and the books 
were opened. I beheld at that time because of the voice 
of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even 
till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and he 
was given to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the 
beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives 



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were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in the 
night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of 
heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to 
the ancient of days, and they brought him near before 
him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and 
a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages 
should serve him : his dominion is an everlasting domin- 
ion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that 
which shall not be destroyed. 

As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst 
of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I 
came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him 
the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made 
me know the interpretation of the things. These great 
beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise 
out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall 
receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, 
even for ever and ever. Then I desired to know the 
truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse 
from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of 
iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in 
pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; and con- 
cerning the ten horns that were on his head, and the other 
horn which came up, and before which three fell; even 
the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great 
things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I 
beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, 
and prevailed against them; until the ancient of days 
came, and judgement was given to the saints of the Most 
High; and the time came that the saints possessed the 
kingdom. Then he said, The fourth beast shall be a 
fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from 
all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and 
shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And as for 
the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise; 
and another shall arise after them ; and he shall be diverse 
from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 



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And he shall speak words against the Most High, and 
shall wear out the saints of the Most High: and he shall 
think to change the times and the law ; and they shall 
be given into his hand until a time and times and half a 
time. But the judgement shall sit, and they shall take 
away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the 
end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness 
of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given 
to the people of the saints of the Most High: his king- 
dom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall 
serve and obey him. Here is the end of the matter. 
As for me Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and 
my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the 
matter in my heart. 

Dan. vii. 

THE VISION AT THE RIVER ULAI 

THE SECOND VISION THAT APPEARED UNTO DANIEL 

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a 
vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that 
which appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in the 
vision ; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan 
the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and 
I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai. 
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, 
there stood before the river a ram which had two 
horns: and the two horns were high; but one was 
higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and 
southward; and no beasts could stand before him, 
neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; 
but he did according to his will, and magnified himself. 
And as I was considering, behold, an he-goat came from 
the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched 
not the ground : and the goat had a notable horn between 



Old Testament Readings 123 

his eyes. And he came to the ram that had the two 
horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran 
upon him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come 
close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler 
against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two 
horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand 
before him: but he cast him down to the ground, and 
trampled upon him; and there was none that could 
deliver the ram out of his hand. And the he-goat magni- 
fied himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the 
great horn was broken ; and instead of it there came up 
four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven. 
And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which 
waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward 
the east, and toward the glorious land. And it waxed 
great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host 
and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and 
trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified itself, even to 
the prince of the host; and it took away from him the 
continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary 
was cast down. And the host was given over to it to- 
gether with the continual burnt offering through trans- 
gression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it 
did its pleasure and prospered. Then I heard a holy one 
speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain 
one which spake, How long shall the vision concerning 
the continual burnt offering, and the transgression that 
maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host 
to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto 
two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings ; 
then shall the sanctuary be cleaned. 

And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen 
the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, 
there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And 
I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which 
called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand 
the vision. So he came near where I stood; and when 



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• 

lie came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: buti 
he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the 
vision belongeth to the time of the end. Now as he was 
speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face 
toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me up- 
right. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know 
what shall be in the latter time of the indignation: for it 
belongeth to the appointed time of the end. The ram 
which thou sawest that had the two horns, they are the 
kings of Media and Persia. And the rough he-goat is 
the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between 
his eyes is the first king. And as for that which was 
broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four king- 
doms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his 
power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when 
the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce 
countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall 
stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by 
his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and 
shall prosper and do his pleasure: and he shall destroy 
the mighty ones and the holy people. And through his 
policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and 
he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security 
shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the 
prince of princes ; but he shall be broken without hand. 
And the vision of the evenings and mornings which have 
been told is true : but shut thou up the vision ; for it be- 
longeth to many days to come. And I Daniel fainted, 
and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the 
king's business: and I was astonished at the vision, but 
none understood it. 

Dan. viii. 


DANIEL AND THE ANGEL 

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of 
the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the 



Old Testament Readings 125 

realm of the Chaldeans ; in the first year of his reign I 
Daniel understood by the books the number of the years, 
whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the 
prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of 
Jerusalem, even seventy years. And I set my face unto 
the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with 
fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed unto 
the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, 

O Lord, the great and dreadful God, which keepeth 
covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep 
his commandments : we have sinned, and have dealt per- 
versely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even 
turning aside from thy precepts and from thy judge- 
ments : neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the 
prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our 
princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the 
land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but 
unto us confusion of face, as at this day ; to the men of 
Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all 
Israel, that are near, and that are far off through all 
the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of 
their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. O 
Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our king, 
to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned 
against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and 
forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him; neither 
have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God to walk 
in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the 
prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, 
even turning aside, that they should not obey thy voice : 
therefore hath the curse been poured out upon us, and 
the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant 
of God; for we have sinned against him. And he hath 
confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and 
against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us 
a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been 
done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written 



126 Old Testament Headings 

• 

in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet 
have we not entreated the favour of the Lord our God, 
that we should turn from our iniquities, and have dis- 
cernment in thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched 
over the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our 
God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we 
have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, 
thou hast brought thy people forth out of the land of 
Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, 
as at this day ; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 
O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, let thine 
anger and thy fury, I pray thee, be turned away from 
thy city Jerusalem, the holy mountain: because for our 
sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem 
and thy people are become a reproach to all that are 
round about us. Now therefore, O our God, hearken 
unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, 
and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is 
desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine 
ear, and hear ; open thine eyes, and behold our desola- 
tions, and the city which is called by thy name: for we 
do not present our supplications before thee for our 
righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, 
hear; O Lord, forgive: O Lord, hearken and do, defer 
not ; for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and 
thy people are called by thy name. 

And whiles I was speaking and praying, and confes- 
sing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and present- 
ing my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy 
mountain of my God ; yea, whiles I was speaking in 
prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision 
at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me 
about the time of the evening oblation. And he in- 
structed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I 
am now come forth to make thee skilful of understand- 
ing. At the beginning of the supplications the com- 
mandment went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for 



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• 

thou art greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter 
and understand the vision. Seventy weeks are decreed 
upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish trans- 
gression, and to make an end of sins, and to make a rec- 
onciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting right- 
eousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to 
anoint the most holy. Know therefore and discern, that 
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and 
to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one, the prince, 
shall be seven weeks; and threescore and two weeks, it 
shall be built again, with street and moat, even in trou- 
blous times. And after the threescore and two weeks 
shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing : 
and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy 
the city and the sanctuary; and his end shall be with a 
flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations 
are determined. And he shall make a firm covenant 
with many for one week: and for the half of the week 
he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease ; and 
upon the wing of abominations shall come one that 
maketh desolate; and even unto the consummation, and 
that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the 
desolater. 

Dan. ix. 



THE VISION OF THE TIME OF THE END 

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was 
revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshaz- 
zar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and 
he understood the thing, and had understanding of the 
vision. 

In those days I Daniel was mourning three whole 
weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor 
wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till 
three whole weeks were fulfilled. And in the four and 



128 Old Testament Headings 

# 

twentieth (lav of the first month, as I was by the side 
of the great river, which is Hiddekel, I lifted up mine 
eyes, and looked, and behold a man clothed in linen, 
whose loins were girded in pure gold of Uphaz: his 
body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appear- 
ance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his 
arms and his feet like in colour to burnished brass, and 
the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 
And I Daniel alone saw the vision : for the men that were 
with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell 
upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was 
left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained 
no strength in me : for my comeliness was turned in me 
into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard 
I the voice of his words : and when I heard the voice of 
his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my 
face, with my face toward the ground. And, behold, a 
hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and 
upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O 
Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words 
that I speak unto thee, and stand upright ; for unto thee 
am I now sent : and when he had spoken this word unto 
me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, 
Daniel ; for from the first day that thou didst set thine 
heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy 
God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy 
words' sake. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia 
withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one 
of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained 
there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make 
thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter 
days: for the vision is yet for many days. And when 
he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set 
my face toward the ground, and was dumb. And, be- 
hold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched 
my lips : then I opened my mouth, and spake and said 
unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of 



Old Testament Readings 129 

» 

the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain 
no strength. For how can the servant of this my lord 
talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there 
remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left 
in me. Then there touched me again one like the ap- 
pearance of a man, and he strengthened me. And he 
said, O man greatly beloved, fear not : peace be unto thee, 
be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, 
I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for 
thou hast strengthened me. Then said he, Knowest thou 
wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return 
to fight with the prince of Persia : and when I go forth, 
lo, the prince of Greece shall come. But I will tell thee 
that which is inscribed in the writing of truth : and there 
is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael 
your prince. And as for me, in the first year of Darius 
the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 

And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there 
shall stand up yet three kings in Persia ; and the fourth 
shall be far richer than they all : and when he is waxed 
strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the 
realm of Greece. And a mighty king shall stand up, 
that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to 
his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall 
be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of 
heaven; but not to his posterity, nor according to his 
dominion wherewith he ruled; for his kingdom shall be 
plucked up, even for others beside these. And the king 
of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes ; and 
he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his 
dominion shall be a great dominion. And at the end of 
years they shall join themselves together; and the daugh- 
ter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the 
north to make an agreement : but she shall not retain the 
strength of her arm ; neither shall he stand, nor his arm ; 
but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and 
he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in those 



130 Old Testament Readings 

+ 

times. But out of a shoot from her roots shall one 
stand Up in his place, which shall come unto the army, 
and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, 
and shall deal against them, and shall prevail : and also 
their gods, with their molten images, and with their 
goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry cap- 
tive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from 
the king of the north. And he shall come into the 
realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into 
his own land. And his sons shall war, and shall assemble 
a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and 
overflow, and pass through : and they shall return and 
war, even to his fortress. And the king of the south 
shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight 
with him, even with the king of the north : and he shall 
set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be 
given into his hand. And the multitude shall be lifted 
up, and his heart shall be exalted : and he shall cast down 
tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 

And the king of the north shall return, and shall set 
forth a multitude greater than the former ; and he shall 
come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a 
great army and with much substance. And in those 
times there shall many stand up against the king of the 
south : also the children of the violent among thy people 
shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they 
shall fall. So the king of the north shall come, and cast 
up a mount, and take a well fenced city: and the arms 
of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen peo- 
ple, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. 
But he that cometh against him shall do according to 
his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he 
shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall 
he destruction. And he shall set his face to come with 
the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with 
him: and he shall do his pleasure: and he shall give him 
the daughter of women, to destroy it; but it shall not 



Old Testament Readings 131 

• 

stand, neither be for him. After this shall he turn his 
face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince 
shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yea, 
moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn upon him. 
Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his 
own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not 
be found. Then shall stand up in his place one that shall 
cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the king- 
dom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither 
in anger, nor in battle. And in his place shall stand up 
a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the 
honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of 
security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And 
with the arms of a flood shall they be swept away from 
before him, and shall be broken ; yea, also, the prince of 
the covenant. And after the league made with him he 
shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall 
become strong, with a small people. In time of security 
shall he come even upon the fattest places of the king- 
dom; and he shall do that which his fathers have not 
done, nor his fathers' fathers ; he shall scatter among them 
prey, and spoil, and substance, yea, he shall devise his de- 
vices against the strong holds, even for a time. And he 
shall stir up his power, and his courage against the king of 
the south with a great army; and the king of the south 
shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty 
army: but he shall not stand, for they shall devise de- 
vices against him. Yea, they that eat of his meat shall 
destroy him, and his army shall overflow : and many shall 
fall down slain. And as for both these kings, their 
hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies 
at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end 
shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return. 

Then shall he return into his land with great substance ; 
and his heart shall be against the holy covenant ; and he 
shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land. At 
the time appointed he shall return, and come into the 



MV2 Old Testament Headings 

• 

south ; but it shall not be in the latter times as in the 
former. For ships of kittim shall come against him; 
therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have 
indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his 
pleasure : he shall even return, and have regard unto 
them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall 
stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, 
even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt 
offering, and they shall set up the abomination that 
maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the 
covenant shall he pervert by flatteries: but the people 
that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. 
And they that be wise among the people shall instruct 
many: yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by 
captivity and by spoil, many days. Now when they fall 
they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall 
join themselves unto them with flatteries. And some 
of them that be wise shall fall, to refine them, and to 
purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the 
end : because it is yet for the time appointed. And the 
king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt 
himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall 
speak marvellous things against the God of gods: and 
he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished ; for 
that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he 
regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, 
nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above 
all. 

Hut in this place shall he honour the god of fortresses: 
tnd a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour 
with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and 
plea>ant things. And he shall deal with the strongest 
fortresses by the help of a strange god; whosoever 
acknowledged him he will increase with glory: and he 
shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the 
land for a price. And at the time of the end shall the 
king of the south contend with him : and the king of the 



Old Testament Readings 133 

north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with 
chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships ; and 
he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and 
pass through. He shall enter also into the glorious land, 
and many countries shall be overthrown : but these shall 
be delivered out of his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the 
chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth 
his hand also upon the countries : and the land of Egypt 
shall not escape. But he shall have power over the 
treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious 
things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians 
shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out 
of the north shall trouble him : and he shall go forth with 
great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many. 
And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the 
sea and the glorious holy mountain ; yet he shall come to 
his end, and none shall help him. 

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great 
prince which standeth for the children of thy people: 
and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was 
since there was a nation even to that same time: and 
at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that 
shall be found written in the book. And many of them 
that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to 
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting con- 
tempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmament; and they that turn many to right- 
eousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O 
Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even 
to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and 
knowledge shall be increased. 

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other 
two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and 
the other on the brink of the river on that side. And 
one said to the man clothed in linen, How long shall it 
be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man 
clothed in linen, which was above the waters of the river, 



134 Old Testament Headings 

# 

when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto 
heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall 
be for a time, times, and an half; and when they have 
made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy 
people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, 
but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall 
be the issue of these things ? And he said, Go thy way, 
Daniel : for the words are shut up and sealed to the time 
of the end. Many shall purify themselves, and make 
themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall 
do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand: 
but they that be wise shall understand. And from the 
time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken 
away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, 
there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand 
three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy 
way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand 
in thy lot, at the end of the days. 

Dan. x-xiu 



Section V 
CHARACTER STUDIES 



THE PATRIARCH 

ABRAHAM, FATHER OF NATIONS 

Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy- 
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's 
house, unto the land that I will shew thee: and I will 
make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and 
make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I 
will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee 
will I curse : and in thee shall all the families of the earth 
be blessed. So Abram went, as the Lord had spoken 
unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was 
seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's 
son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and 
the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went 
forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land 
of Canaan they came. And Abram passed through the 
land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. 
And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord 
appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I 
give this land : and there builded he an altar to the Lord, 
who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence 
into the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched 
his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east : 
and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called 
upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed, 
going on still toward the South. 

And there was a famine in the land : and Abram went 
down into Egypt to sojourn there ; for the famine was sore 
in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come 
near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife. 
Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look 

i37 



K38 Old Testament Headings 

• 

i: and it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians 
shall sec thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and 
they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I 
pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with 
me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of 
thee. And it came to pass, that, when Abram was 
come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that 
she was very fair. And the princes of Pharaoh saw 
her, and praised her to Pharaoh and the woman was 
taken into Pharaoh's house. And he entreated Abram 
well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he- 
asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she-asses, 
and camels. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his 
house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 
And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that 
thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that 
she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? 
so that I took her to be my wife: now therefore behold 
thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh gave 
men charge concerning him : and they brought him on 
the way, and his wife, and all that he had. 

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, 
and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South. 
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 
And he w r ent on his journeys from the South even to 
Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the 
beginning, between Beth-el and Ai ; unto the place of the 
altar, which he had made there at the first: and there 
Abram called on the name of the Lord. And Lot also, 
which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 
And the land was not able to bear them, that they might 
dwell together: for their substance was great, so that 
they could not dwell together. And there was a strife 
ween the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen 
of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite 
then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, 
re he no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, 



Old Testament Readings 139 

» 

and between my herdmen and thy herdmen ; for we are 
brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate 
thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the 
left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou take 
the right hand, I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up 
his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of Jordan, that it was 
well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed 
Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the Lord, like 
the land of Egypt, as thou goest unto Zoar. So Lot 
chose him all the Plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed 
east: and they separated themselves the one from the 
other. Abram dwelled in the land of Caanan, and Lot 
dwelled in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent 
as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked 
and sinners against the Lord exceedingly. And the 
Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from 
him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place 
where thou art, northward and southward and eastward 
and westward : for all the land which thou seest, to thee 
will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will 
make thy seed as the dust of the earth, then shall thy 
seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land 
in the length of it and in the breadth of it ; for unto thee 
will I give it. And Abram moved his tent, and came 
and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, 
and built there an altar unto the Lord. 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the 
Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God 
Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And 
I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will 
multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face : 
and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my 
covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a 
multitude of nations. Neither shall thy name any more 
be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for 
the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. 
And I will make thee exceedingly fruitful, and I will 



140 Old Testament Readings 

m 

make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee 
and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for 
an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to 
thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to 
thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the 
land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will 
be their God. 

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, 
thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her 
name be. And I will bless her, and moreover I will 
give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she 
shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be 
of her. 

Gen. xii, xiii; xvii, 1-9, 15, 16. 



THE LAW-GIVER 

MOSES 

The Birth of Moses 

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew 
not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the 
people of the children of Israel are more and mightier 
than we: come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they 
multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth 
out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, 
and fight against us and get them up out of the land. 
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict 
them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh 
store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they 
afflicted them, the more they multiplied, and the more 
they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of 
the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the 
children of Israel to serve with rigour; and they made 
their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in 






Old Testament Readings 141 

• 

brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their 
service, wherein they made them serve with rigour. 
And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son 
that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daugh- 
ter ye shall save alive. 

And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took 
to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman bare a son : 
and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she 
hid him three months. And when she could not longer 
hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and 
daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the 
child therein, and laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 
And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be 
done to him. 

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at 
the river; and her maidens walked along by the river 
side ; and she saw the ark among the flags, and sent her 
handmaid to fetch it. And she opened it, and saw the 
child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had com- 
passion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' 
children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, 
Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, 
that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh's 
daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and 
called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said 
unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and 
I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the 
•child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she 
brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became 
her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Be- 
cause I drew him out of the water. 

Ex. i, 8-14, 22; U, 1-10. 

The Marriage of Moses 

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was 
grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked 



142 Old Testament Headings 

• 

on their burdens: and he saw an Egyptian smiting an 
Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way 
and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he 
smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. And he 
went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the 
Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did 
the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And 
he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? 
thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killest the Egyptian? 
And Moses feared, and said, Surely the thing is known. 
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to 
slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, 
and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a 
well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: 
and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to 
water their father's flock. And the shepherds came and 
drove them away : but Moses stood up and helped them, 
and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel 
their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon 
to-day? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out 
of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew 
water for us, and watered the flock. And he said unto 
his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have 
left the man: call him, that he may eat bread. And 
Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave 
Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare a son, 
and he called his name Gershom : for he said, I have been 
a sojourner in a strange land. 

Ex. U, 11-22. 

Moses the Deliverer 

And it came to pass in the course of these many days, 
that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel 
sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and 
their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his 



Old Testament Readings 143 

• 

covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 
And God saw the children of Israel, and God took knowl- 
edge of them. 

Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father 
in law, the priest of Midian : and he led the flock to the 
back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, 
unto Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto 
him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and 
he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and 
the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will 
turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush 
is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned 
aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of 
the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here 
am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy 
shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou 
standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the 
God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, 
and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he 
was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I 
have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in 
Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their task- 
masters ; for I know their sorrows ; and I am come down 
to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to 
bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a 
large, a land flowing with milk and honey ; unto the place 
of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and 
the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 

And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is 
come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression 
wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now 
therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou 
mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out 
of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that 
I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth 
the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Cer- 
tainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token 



144 Old Testament Headings 

• 

unto thee, that I have sent thee: and when thou hast 
brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve 
God upon this mountain. And Moses said unto God, 
Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and 
shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent 
me unto you ; and they shall say to me, What is his 
name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto 
Moses, I AM THAT I AM : and he said, Thus shalt 
thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM that hath 
sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, 
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord, 
the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God 
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: 
this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto 
all generations. Go, and gather the elders of Israel 
together, and say unto them, The Lord, the God of your 
fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, 
hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited 
you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt : and I 
have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of 
Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and Hittite, and 
the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the 
Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 

Ex. U, 23-25; Hi, 1 -1 7. 

* 

THE SONG OF DELIVERANCE 

A SONG OF MOSES RECOUNTING THE 
DELIVERANCE FROM THE EGYPTIANS 
OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND 
THEIR PASSAGE OVER THE RED SEA 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song 
unto the Lord, and spake, saying, 

I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glori- 
ously : 



Old Testament Readings 145 

• 

The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 

The Lord is my strength and song, 

And he is become my salvation: 

This is my God, and I will praise him ; 

My father's God, and I will exalt him. 

The Lord is a man of war: 

The Lord is his name. 

Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the 

sea: 
And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea. 
The deeps cover them: 

They went down into the depths like a stone. 
Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power, 
Thy right hand, O Lord, dasheth in pieces the enemy. 
And in the greatness of thine excellency 
Thou overthrowest them that rise up against thee: 
Thou sendest forth thy wrath, it consumeth them as 

stubble. 
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were 

piled up, 
The floods stood upright as an heap; 
The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. 
The enemy said, 

I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil : 
My lust shall be satisfied upon them; 
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 
Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: 
They sank as lead in the mighty waters. 
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? 
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, 
Fearful in praises, doing wonders? 
Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, 
The earth swallowed them. 
Thou in thy mercy hast led the people which thou hast 

redeemed : 
Thou hast guided them in thy strength to thy holy 

habitation. 



146 Old Testament Headings 

• 

The peoples have heard, they tremble: 

Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia. 

Then were the dukes of Edotn amazed; 

The mighty men of Moab, trembling taketh hold upon 
them : 

All the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away. 

Terror and dread falleth upon them; 

By the greatness of thine arm they are as still as a stone; 

Till thy people pass over, O Lord, 

Till the people pass over which thou hast purchased. 

Thou shalt bring them in, 

And plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance. 

The place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to 
dwell in, 

The sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have estab- 
lished. 

The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 

For the horses of Pharaoh zvent in with his chariots 
and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought 
again the z^atcrs of the sea upon them; but the children 
of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. 
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took 
a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out 
after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam 
anszi'ered them, 

Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; 
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 

Ex. XV, 1-21. 

Moses the Law-Giver 

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in 
law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for 
Israel his people, how that the Lord had brought Israel 
out of Egypt. And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took 



Old Testament Readings 147 

Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away, and 
her two sons; of which the name of one was Gershom; 
for he said, I have been a sojourner in a strange land: 
and the name of the other was Eliezer; for he said, The 
God of my father was my help, and delivered me from 
the sword of Pharaoh : and Jethro, Moses' father in law, 
came with his sons and his wife unto Moses in the 
wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of 
God : and he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro 
am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with 
her. And Moses went out to meet his father in law, 
and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each 
other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 

And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord 
had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's 
sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the 
way, and how the Lord delivered them. And Jethro 
rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done 
to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand 
of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the! 
Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the 
Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who hath 
delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyp- 
tians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all 
gods ; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against 
them. And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt 
offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and 
all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father 
in law before God. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat 
to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses 
from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' 
father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, 
What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why 
sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about 
thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto 
his father in law, Because the people come unto me 



148 Old Testament Readings 

• 

to inquire of Gocl : when they have a matter, they come 
unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, 
and 1 make them to know the statutes of God, and his 
laws. And Moses' father in law said unto him, The 
thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely 
wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: 
for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able 
to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my 
voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: 
be thou for the people to Godward, and bring thou the 
causes unto God : and thou shalt teach them the statutes 
and the laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein 
they must walk, and the work that they must do. 

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able 
men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust 
gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thou- 
sands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers 
of tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons: 
and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring 
unto thee, every small matter they shall judge themselves: 
so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the 
burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God 
command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, 
and all this people also shall go to their place in peace. 

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in 
law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose 
able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over 
the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, 
rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged 
the people at all seasons : the hard causes they brought 
unto Moses, but every small matter they judged them- 
selves. And Moses let his father in law depart; and 
he went his way into his own land. 

Ex. xix. 



Old Testament 'Readings 149 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 

DELIVERED UNTO MOSES AND THE CHIL- 
DREN OE ISRAEL QN MOUNT SINAI 

And it came to pass on the third day, when it was 
morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and 
a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet 
exceeding loud ; and all the people that were in the camp 
trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of 
the camp to meet God ; and they stood at the nether part 
of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on 
smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and 
the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, 
and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the 
voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses 
spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the 
Lord came down mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: 
and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mount ; and 
Moses went up. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go 
down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the 
Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the 
priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify them- 
selves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. And Moses 
said unto the Lord, Thy people cannot come up to mount 
Sinai : for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about 
the mount, and sanctify it. And the Lord said unto him, 
Go, get thee down; and thou shalt come up, thou, and 
Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people 
break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break 

I forth upon them. So Moses went down unto the people, 
and told them. 
And God spake all these words, saying, 
■ 



I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the 
land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 



1,50 Old Testament Readings 
• 

i. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor 
the likeness of any form that is in heaven above, or that 
IS in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under 
the earth : thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, 
nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 
God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the chil- 
dren, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of 
them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands, 
of them that love me and keep my commandments. 

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God 
in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that 
taketh his name in vain. 

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six 
days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the 
seventh day is a sabbath unto the Lord thy God: in it 
thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy 
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy 
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in 
six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all 
that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore 
the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days 
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giv- 
eth thee. 

6. Thou shalt do no murder. 

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

8. Thou shalt not steal. 

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neigh- 
bour. 

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou 
shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manser- 
vant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor 
anything that is thy neighbour's. 

Ex. xix, 16-25 ; xx, 1-17. 



Old Testament Readings 151 



SOME MOSAIC LAWS UPON 
WHICH MODERN LAW IS FOUNDED 

On the Taking of Gifts 

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy 
gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, according 
to thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with right- 
eous judgement. Thou shalt not wrest judgement; thou 
shalt not respect persons : neither shalt thou take a gift ; 
for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert 
the words of the righteous. 

Deut. xvi, 18, 19. 

The Outlawing of Debts 

At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a 
release. And this is the manner of the release: every 
creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his 
neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his 
brother; because the Lord's release hath been pro- 
claimed. 

Deut. xv, 1, 2. 

Evidence and Perjury 

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any 
iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at 
the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three 
witnesses, shall a matter be established. If an unright- 
eous witness rise up against any man to testify against 
him of wrong doing; then both the men, between whom 
the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before 
the priests and the judges which shall be in those days; 
and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, be- 
hold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified 
falsely against his brother; then shall ye do unto him, 
as he had thought to do unto his brother: so shalt thou 



152 Old Testament Headings 

• 

put away the evil from the midst of thee. And those 
which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth 
commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee. 
And thine eye shall not pity ; life shall go for life, eye 
for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. 

Deut. xix, 15-21. 

False Weights and Measures 

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great 
and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house di- 
verse measures, a great and a small. A perfect and just 
weight shalt thou have: a perfect and just measure shalt 
thou have: that thy days may be long upon the land 
which the Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do 
such things, even all that do unrighteously, are an abom- 
ination unto the Lord thy God. 

Deut. xxv, 13-16. 

Boundary Lines 

Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which 
they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou 
shalt inherit, in the land that the Lord thy God giveth 
thee to possess. 

Deut. xix, 14. 

A Unique Building Law 

When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt 
make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not 
blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. 

Deut xxii, 8. 

The Return of Slaves 

Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a servant which 
is escaped from his master unto thee: he shall dwell with 
thee, in the midst of thee, in the place which he shall 



Old Testament Readings 153 

• 

choose within one of the gates, where it liketh him best: 
thou shalt not oppress him. 

Deut. xxiii, 15, 16. 

Servants and Laborers 

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor 
and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy 
strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: in his 
day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun 
go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart 
upon it : lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be 
sin unto thee. 

Deut. xxiv, 14, 15. 



AN ORATION OF MOSES 
FROM DEUTERONOMY OR THE FAREWELL OF MOSES 

These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel 
beyond Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah over 
against Suph, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, 
and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. It is eleven days' journey 
from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh- 
bamea. 

And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the 
eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses 
spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that 
the Lord had given him in commandment unto them: 
after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites, 
which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, 
which dwelt in Ashtaroth, at Edrei: beyond Jordan, in the 
land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law y saying, 

The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying. 
Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain: turn you, 
and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the 
Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the 



154 Old 'Testament Headings 

• 

Arabah, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and in 
the South, and by the sea shore, the land of the Canaan- 
ites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river 
Euphrates. Heboid, I have set the land before you: 
£0 in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto 
your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to 
give unto them and to their seed after them. And I 
spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to 
bear you myself alone: the Lord your God hath multi- 
plied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of 
heaven for multitude. The Lord, the God of your 
fathers, make you a thousand times so many more as 
ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you! How 
can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your 
burden, and your strife? Take you wise men, and un- 
derstanding, and known, according to your tribes, and 
I will make them heads over you. And ye answered 
me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good 
for us to do. So I took the heads of your tribes, wise 
men, and known, and made them heads over you, cap- 
tains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and cap- 
tains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, accord- 
ing to your tribes. And I charged your judges at that 
time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and 
judge righteously between a man and his brother, and 
the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect per- 
sons in judgement; ye shall hear the small and the great 
alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the 
judgement is God's: and the cause that is too hard for 
you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it. And I 
commanded you at that time all the things which ye 

-ulcl do. 

And we journeyed from Iloreb, and went through 
all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw, by 
the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the Lord 
our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh- 
barnea. And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the 



Old Testament Readings 155 

• 

hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God 
giveth unto us. Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the 
land before thee: go up, take possession, as the Lord, 
the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee; fear 
not, neither be dismayed. And ye came near unto me 
every one of you, and said, Let us send men before us, 
that they may search the land for us, and bring us word 
again of the way by which we must go, and the cities 
unto which we shall come. And the thing pleased me 
well : and I took twelve men of you, one man for every 
tribe: and they turned and went up into the moun- 
tain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and spied 
it out. And they took of the fruit of the land 
in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and 
brought us word again, and said, It is a good 
land which the Lord our God giveth unto us. Yet 
ye would not go up, but rebelled against the command- 
ment of the Lord your God: and ye murmured in your 
tents, and said, Because the Lord hated us, he hath 
brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver 
us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Whither 
are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to 
melt, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; 
the cities are great and fenced up to heaven; and more- 
over we have seen the sons of the Anakim there. Then 
I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. 
The Lord your God who goeth before you, he shall 
fight for you, according to all that he did for you in 
Egypt before your eyes; and in the wilderness, where 
thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, 
as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, 
until ye came unto this place. Yet in this thing ye did 
not believe the Lord your God, who went before you 
in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents 
in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should 
go, and in the cloud by day. And the Lord heard the 
voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, say- 



150 Old Testament Headings 
• 

ing, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil 
generation see the good land, which I sware to give 
unto your fathers, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, he 
shall see it ; and to him will I give the land that he hath 
trodden upon, and to his children : because he hath wholly 
followed the Lord. Also the Lord was angry with me 
for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither : 
Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he 
shall go in thither : encourage thou him ; for he shall 
cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover your little ones, 
which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which 
this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall 
go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall 
possess it. But as for you, turn you, and take your 
journey in the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea. 
Then he answered and said unto me, We have sinned 
against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all 
that the Lord our God commanded us. And ye girded 
on every man his weapons of war, and were forward 
to go up into the mountain. And the Lord said unto 
me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight, for I am 
not among you ; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. 
So I spake unto you, and ye hearkened not; but ye re- 
belled against the commandment of the Lord, and were 
presumptuous, and went up into the mountain. And the 
Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against 
you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in 
Seir, even unto Hormah. And ye returned and wept 
before the Lord ; but the Lord hearkened not to your 
voice, nor gave ear unto you. So ye abode in Kadesh 
many days, according unto the days that ye abode there. 
Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilder- 
ness by the way to the Red Sea, as the Lord spake unto 
me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. And 
the Lord spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed 
this mountain long enough : turn you northward. And 
command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through 



Old Testament Readings 157. 

the border of your brethren the children of Esau, which 
dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye 
good heed unto yourselves therefore: contend not with 
them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so 
much as for the sole of the foot to tread on: because I 
have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. 
Ye shall purchase food of them for money, that ye may 
eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, 
that ye may drink. For the Lord thy God hath blessed 
thee in all the work of thy hand: he hath known thy 
walking through this great wilderness : these forty years 
the Lord thy God hath been with thee ; thou hast lacked 
nothing. So we passed by from our brethren the chil- 
dren of Esau, which dwell in Seir, from the way of the 
Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. 

And we turned and passed by the way of the wilder- 
ness of Moab. And the Lord said unto me, Vex not 
Moab, neither contend with them in battle: for I will 
not give thee of his land for a possession; because I 
have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a posses- 
sion. (The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people 
great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim : these also are 
accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites 
call them Emim. The Horites also dwelt in Seir afore- 
time, but the children of Esau succeeded them ; and they 
destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their 
stead ; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which 
the Lord gave unto them.) Now rise up, and get you 
over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Ze- 
red. And the days in which we came from Kadesh- 
barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were 
thirty and eight years ; until all the generation of the men 
of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as the 
Lord sware unto them. Moreover the hand of the Lord 
was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the 
camp, until they were consumed. 

So it came to pass, when all the men of war were 



158 Old Testament Readings 

• 

consumed and dead from among the people, that the 
Lord spake unto me, saying, Thou art this day to pass 
over Ar, the border of Moab: and when thou comest 
nigh over against the children of Amnion, vex them 
not, nor contend with them : for I will not give thee of 
the land of the children of Amnion for a possession: 
because I have given it unto the children of Lot 
for a possession. (That also is accounted a land 
of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but 
the Ammonites call them Zamzummim : a people, great, 
and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but the Lord 
destroyed them before them; and they succeeded 
them, and dwelt in their stead: as he did for the 
children of Esau, which dwell in Seir, when 
he destroyed the Horites from before them ; and 
they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto 
this day: and the Avvim which dwelt in villages as far 
as Gaza, the Caphtorim, which came forth out of Caph- 
tor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.) Rise ye 
up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of Arnon: 
behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, 
king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and 
contend with him in battle. This day will I begin to put 
the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples 
that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the 
report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish be- 
cause of thee. 

And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kede- 
moth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, 
saying, Let me pass through thy land : I will go along by 
the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand 
nor to the left. Thou shalt sell me food for money, 
that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I 
may drink: only let me pass through on my feet: as the 
children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites 
which dwell in Ar, did unto me; until I shall pass over 
Jordan into the land which the Lord our God giveth 



Old Testament Headings 159 

us. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass 
by him : for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and 
made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into 
thy hand, as at this day. And the Lord said unto me, 
Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land 
before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit 
his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all 
his people, unto battle at Jahaz. And the Lord our God 
delivered him up before us ; and we smote him, and his 
sons, and all his people. And we took all his cities at 
that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, 
with the women and the little ones ; we left none remain- 
ing; only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, 
with the spoil of the [cities which we had taken. From 
Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and 
from the city that is in the valley, even unto Gilead, 
there was not a city too high for us : the Lord our God 
delivered up all before us : only to the land of the children 
of Ammon thou earnest not near ; all the side of the river 
Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and whereso- 
ever the Lord our God forbade us. 

Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: 
and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and 
all his people, unto battle at Edrei. And the Lord said 
unto me, Fear him not : for I have delivered him, and all 
his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt 
do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amor- 
ites, which dwelt at Heshbon. So the Lord our God 
delivered into our hand Og also, king of Bashan, and all 
his people : and we smote him until none was left to him 
remaining. And we took all the cities at that time; 
there was not a city which we took not from them; 
threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of 
Og in Bashan. All these were cities fenced with high 
walls, gates, and bars ; beside the unwalled towns a great 
many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto 
Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhab- 



160 Old Testament Readings 

• 

ited city, with the women and the little ones. But all 
the cattle, and spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto 
ourselves. And we took the land at that time out of 
the hand of the two kings of the Amorites that were 
beyond Jordan, from the valley of Anion unto mount 
Hermon; (which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and 
the Amorites call it Senir;) all the cities of the plain, 
and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Selecah and Edrei, 
cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (For only Og 
king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Reph- 
aim ; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron ; is 
it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits 
was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of 
it, after the cubit of a man.) And this land we took in 
possession at that time : from Aroer, which is by the val- 
ley of Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead, and the 
cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the 
Gadites: and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the 
kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh ; 
all the region of Argab, even all Bashan. (The same is 
called the land of Rephaim. Jair the son of Manasseh 
took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the 
Geshurites and the Maacathites; and called them, even 
Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this 
day.) And I gave Gilead unto Machir. And unto 
the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead 
even unto the valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley, 
and the border thereof; even unto the river Jabbok, 
which is the border of the children of Ammon; the Ara- 
bah also, and Jordan and the border thereof, from Chin- 
nereth even unto the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, 
under the slopes of Pisgah eastward. 

And I commanded you at that time, saying, The Lord 

your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye 

II pass over armed before your brethren the children 

of Israel, all the men of valour. But your wives and 

your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that ye have 



Old Testament Readings 161 

• 

much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have 
given you; until the Lord give rest unto your brethren, 
as unto you, and they also possess the land which the 
Lord your God giveth them beyond Jordan: then shall 
ye return every man unto his possession, which I have 
given you. And I commanded Joshua at that time, say- 
ing, Thine eyes have seen all that the Lord your God 
hath done unto these two kings: so shall the Lord do 
unto all the kingdoms whither thou goest over. Ye 
shall not fear them: for the Lord your God, he it is 
that fighteth for you. 

And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, O Lord 
God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, 
and thy strong hand: for what god is there in heaven 
or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and ac- 
cording to thy mighty acts? Let me go over, I pray 
thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, 
that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was 
wroth with me for your sakes, and hearkened not unto 
me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; 
speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into 
the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and 
northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold 
with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 
But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen 
him : for he shall go over before this people, and he shall 
cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. So 
we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor. 

And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and 
unto the judgements, w r hich I teach you, for you to do 
them ; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land 
which the Lord, the God of your fathers, giveth you. Ye 
shall not add unto the word which I command you, 
neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the 
commandments of the Lord your God which I command 
you. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of 
Baal-peor: for all the men that followed Baal-peor, the 



162 Old Testament Readings 

o 

Lord thy God hath destroyed them from the midst of 
thee. But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God 
are alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have 
taught you statutes and judgements, even as the Lord my 
God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst o£ 
the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and 
do them ; for this is your wisdom and your understanding 
in the sight of the peoples, which shall hear all these 
statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and 
understanding people. For what great nation is there, 
that hath a god so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God 
is whensoever we call upon him ? And what great nation 
is there, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous 
as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only 
take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou 
forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they de- 
part from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make 
them known to thy children and thy children's children ; 
the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in 
Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Assemble me the 
people, and I will make them hear my words, that they 
may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the 
earth, and that they may teach their children. And ye 
came near and stood under the mountain ; and the moun- 
tain burned with fire unto the heart of heaven, with dark- 
ness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spake unto 
you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of 
words, but ye saw no form ; only ye heard a voice. And 
he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded 
you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he 
wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the Lord 
commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and 
judgements, that ye might do them in the land whither ye 
go over to possess it. Take ye therefore good heed unto 
yourself; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that 
the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of 
the fire: lest ye corrupt yourself, and make you a graven 



Old Testament Readings 163 

image in the form of any figure the likeness of male or 
female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the 
likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven, the 
likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the like- 
ness of any fish that is in the water under the earth : and 
lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou 
seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host 
of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and 
serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto 
all the peoples under the whole heaven. But the Lord 
hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron fur- 
nace, out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, 
as at this day. Furthermore the Lord was angry with me 
for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jor- 
dan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, 
which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance: 
but I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: 
but ye shall go over, and possess that good land. Take 
heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the 
Lord your God, which he made with you, and make 
you a grave image in the form of any thing which the 
Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. For the Lord thy 
God is a devouring fire, a jealous God. 

When thou shalt beget children, and children's chil- 
dren, and we shall have been long in the land, and shall 
corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image in the 
form of any thing, and shall do that which is evil in 
the sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him to anger: 
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, 
that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land where- 
unto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not pro- 
long your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. 
And the Lord shall scatter you among the peoples, and 
ye shall be left few in number among the nations, 
whither the Lord shall lead you away. And there ye 
shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and 
stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 



1(54 Old Testament Readings 

# 

But if from thence ye shall seek the Lord thy God, thou 
shalt find him, if thou search after him with all thy heart 
and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and 
all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days 
thou shalt return to the Lord thy God, and hearken 
unto his voice: for the Lord thy God is a merciful God; 
he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget 
the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. 
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before 
thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, 
and from the one end of heaven unto the other, whether 
there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, 
or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the 
voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as 
thou hast heard, and live? Or hath God assayed to go 
and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, 
by temptation, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, 
and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and 
by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God 
did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it 
was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he 
is God ; there is none else beside him. Out of heaven 
he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct 
thee: and upon earth he made thee to see his great fire; 
and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the 
fire. And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he 
chose their seed after them, and brought thee out with 
his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt; to 
drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier 
than thou, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for 
an inheritance, as at this day. Know therefore this 
day, and lay it to thine heart, that the Lord he is God 
in heaven above and upon the earth beneath: there is 
none else. And thou shalt keep his statutes, and his 
commandments, which I command thee this day, that 
it may go well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong 



Old Testament Readings 165 

thy days upon the land, which the Lord thy God givetfi 
thee, for ever. 

Deut. i-iv, 1-40. 

THE DEATH OF MOSES 

And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, 
saying, Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, unto 
Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over 
against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which 
I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: and 
die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered 
unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount 
Hor, and was gathered unto his people : because ye tres- 
passed against me in the midst of the children of Israel 
at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness 
of Zin ; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the 
children of Israel. For thou shalt see the land before 
thee; but thou shalt not go thither into the land which 
I give the children of Israel. 

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto 
mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against 
Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of 
Gilead, unto Dan; and all Naphtali, and the land of 
Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto 
the hinder sea; and the South, and the Plain of the 
valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar. 
And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I 
sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, say- 
ing, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to 
see it with thine own eyes, but thou shalt not go over 
thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there 
in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 
And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab 
over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his 
sepulchre unto this day. 

Deut. xxxii, 48-52; xxxiv, 1-6. 



106 Old Testament Headings 



THE UPRIGHT JUDGE 

THE FAREWELL COUNSEL OF SAMUEL 
THE LAST OF THE JUDGES OVER ISRAEL 

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have 
hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, 
and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the 
king walketh before you : and I am old and grayheaded ; 
and, behold, my sons are with you : and I have walked 
before you from my youth unto this day. 

Here I am : witness against me before the Lord, and 
before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose 
ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom 
have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I taken a 
bribe to blind my eyes therewith? and I will restore it 
you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor 
oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's 
hand. And he said unto them, The Lord is witness 
against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that 
ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, 
He is witness. 

And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that 
appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your 
fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore 
stand still, that I may plead with you before the Lord 
concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he 
did to you and to your fathers. When Jacob was come 
into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then 
the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth 
your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in 
this place. But they forgat the Lord their God, and 
he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the 
host of Ilazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and 
into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought 
inst them. And they cried unto the Lord, and said, 
We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, 



Old Testament Readings 167 

• 

and have served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth : but now 
deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will 
serve thee. And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, 
and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of 
the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled 
in safety. 

And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children 
of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay, but 
a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God 
was your king. Now therefore behold the king whom 
ye have chosen, and whom ye have asked for: and, 
behold, the Lord hath set a king over you. If ye will 
fear the Lord, and serve him, and hearken unto his 
voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the 
Lord, and both ye and also the king that reigneth over 
you be followers of the Lord your God, well: but if 
ye will not hearken unto the voice of the Lord, but 
rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall 
the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against 
your fathers. 

Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, 
which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not 
wheat harvest to-day? I will call unto the Lord, that 
he may send thunder and rain ; and ye shall know and see 
that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in 
the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. So Samuel 
called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and 
rain that day : and all the people greatly feared the Lord 
and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray 
for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die 
not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to 
ask us a king. 

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have 
indeed done all this evil : yet turn not aside from follow- 
ing the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; 
and turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain 
things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain. 



168 Old Testament Headings 

• 

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great 
name's sake : because it hath pleased the Lord to make 
you a people unto himself. Moreover as for me, God 
forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to 
pray for you : but I will instruct you in the good and 
the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in 
truth with all your heart : for consider how great things 
he hath done for you. But if ye shall do wickedly, ye 
shall be consumed, both ye and your king. 

/. Sam. xii. 



THE SWEET PSALMIST OF ISRAEL 

"the anointed of THE GOD OF JACOB, 
AND THE SWEET PSALMIST OF ISRAEL/' 

77. Sam. xxiii, I. 

Now the spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, 
and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And 
Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit 
from God troubleth thee. Let our Lord now scommand 
thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man 
who is a cunning player on the harp: and it shall come 
to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that 
he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 

And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a 
man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then 
answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I 
have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning 
in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of 
war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person, and 
the Lord is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers 
unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is 
with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, 
and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David 
his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood 
before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became 



Old Testament Readings 169 

his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let 
David, I pray thee, stand before me ; for he hath found 
favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil 
spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the 
harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, 
and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. 

/. Sam. xvi, 14-23. 

THE BOY DAVID AND THE GIANT 

Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to 
battle, and they were gathered together at Socoh, which 
belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Socoh and 
Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And Saul and the men of 
Israel were gathered together, and pitched in the vale 
of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 
And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one 
side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side : 
and there was a valley between them. And there went 
out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named 
Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a 
span. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, 
and he was clad with a coat of mail ; and the weight of 
the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he 
had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a javelin of 
brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear 
was like a weaver's beam ; and his spear's head weighed 
six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went 
before him. And he stood and cried unto the armies 
of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to 
set your battle in array? am I not a Philistine, and ye 
servants to Saul ? choose you a man for you, and let him 
come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and 
kill me, then will we be your servants : but if I prevail 
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, 
and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies 



170 Old Testament Headings 
• 

of Israel this day ; give me a man, that we may fight 
together. And when Saul and all Israel heard those 
words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly 
afraid. 

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth- 
lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight 
sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, 
stricken in years among men. And the three eldest sons 
of Jesse had gone after Saul in the battle: and the names 
of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the 
firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third 
Shammah. And David was the youngest : and the three 
eldest followed Saul. Now David went to and fro from 
Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem. And the 
Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented 
himself forty days. 

And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy 
brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten 
loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to thy 
brethren ; and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain 
of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and 
take their pledge. Now Saul, and they, and all the 
men of Israel, were in the vale of Elah, fighting 
with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the 
morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, 
and went, as Jesse had commanded him ; and he came to 
the place of the wagons, as the host which was going 
forth to the fight shouted for the battle. And Israel 
and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against 
army. And David left his baggage in the hand of the 
keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army and came 
and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, 
behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of 
Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philis- 
tines, and spake according to the same words: and David 
heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw 
the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And the 



Old Testament Beading s 171 

• 

men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come 
up ? surely to defy Israel is he come up : and it shall be, 
that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him 
with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and 
make his father's house free in Israel. And David 
spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall 
be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh 
away the reproach from Israel ? for who is this uncir- 
cumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of 
the living God? And the people answered him after 
this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that 
killeth him. And Eliab the eldest brother heard when 
he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled 
against David, and he said, Why art thou come down? 
and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the 
wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of 
thine heart ; for thou art come down that thou mightest 
see the battle. And David said, What have I now done ? 
Is there not a cause? And he turned away from him 
toward another, and spake after the same manner: and 
the people answered him again after the former manner. 
And when the words were heard which David spake, 
they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him. 
And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because 
of him ; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against 
this Philistine to fight with him : for thou art but a youth, 
and he a man of war from his youth. And David said 
unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep; and 
when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out 
of the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and de- 
livered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against 
me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew 
him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: 
and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, 
seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. And 
David said, The Lord hath delivered me out of the paw 



172 Old Testament Readings 

» 

of the Hon, and out of the paw of the bear, he will 
deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul 
said unto David, Go, and the Lord shall be with thee. 
And Saul clad David with his apparel, and put an helmet 
of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat 
of mail. And David girded his sword upon his apparel, 
and he assayed to go ; for he had not proved it. And 
David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these ; for I have 
not proved them. And David put them off him. And 
he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth 
stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd's 
bag which he had, even in his scrip ; and his sling was in 
his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the 
Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the 
man that bare the shield went before him. And when 
the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained 
him : for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a 
fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, 
Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And 
the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philis- 
tine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh 
unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me 
with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but 
I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God 
of our armies of Israel, which thou hast defied. This 
day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I 
will smite thee, and take thine head from off thee; and I 
will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this 
day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of 
the earth ; that all the earth may know that there is a 
God in Israel : and that all this assembly may know that 
the Lord saveth not with sword and spear : for the battle 
is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand. And 
it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and 
drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran 
toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put 



Old Testament Readings 173 

■ • 

his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, 
and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone 
sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the 
earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling 
and with a stone and smote the Philistine, and slew him ; 
but there was no sword in the hand of David. Then 
David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his 
sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew 
him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Phil- 
istines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And 
the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and 
pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to Gai, and to 
the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines 
fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and 
unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from 
chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their camp. 
And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought 
it to Jerusalem ; but he put his armour in his tent. 

/. Sam. xvii, 1-54* 



DAVID AND JONATHAN 

THE STORY OF AN IMMORTAL FRIENDSHIP 

And when Saul saw David go forth against the 
Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, 
Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As 
thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. And the king said, 
Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. And as David 
returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took 
him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the 
Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, Whose 
son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, 
I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite. And 
it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking 
unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the 



174 Old Testament Headings 

• 

soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 
And Saul took him that clay, and would let him go no 
more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and 
David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own 
soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that 
was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, 
even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and 
behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men 
of war, and it was good in the sight of Saul's servants. 

And it came to pass as they came, when David re- 
turned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the 
women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and 
dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and 
with instruments of music. And the women sang one 
to another in their play, and said, 

Saul has slain his thousands, 
And David his ten thousands. 

And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased 
him ; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten 
thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: 
and what can he have more than the kingdom? And 
Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit 
from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied 
in the midst of the house: and David played with his 
hand, as he did day by day: and Saul had his spear in 
his hand. And Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will 
smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out 
of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, 
because the Lord was with him, and was departed from 
Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made 
him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and 
came before the people. And David behaved himself 
wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him. And 



Old Testament Readings 175 

» 

when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he 
stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved 
David ; for he went out and came in before them. 

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his 
servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan 
Saul's son delighted much in David. And Jonathan told 
David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to slay thee : now 
therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morn- 
ing, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: and I 
will go out and stand beside my father in the field where 
thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; 
and if I see aught, I will tell thee. And Jonathan spake 
good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, 
Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; 
because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his 
works have been to thee ward very good: for he put 
his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and the 
Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel : thou sawest 
it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against 
innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And 
Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul 
sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be put to death. 
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him 
all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, 
and he was in his presence as beforetime. 

And there was war again: and David went out, and 
fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great 
slaughter ; and they fled before him. And an evil spirit 
from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house 
with his spear in his hand; and David played with his 
hand. A nd Saul sought to smite David even to the wall 
with the spear ; but he slipped away out of Saul's pres- 
ence, and he smote the spear into the wall: and David 
fled, and escaped that night. And Saul sent messengers 
unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in 
the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, 
If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt 



170 Old Testament Headings 

# 

be slain. So Michal let David down through the win- 
dow : and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal 
took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow 
of goats' hair at the head thereof, and covered it with 
the clothes. And when Saul sent messengers to take 
David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messen- 
gers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed 
that I may slay him. And when the messengers came 
in behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow 
of goats' hair at the hear thereof. And Saul said unto 
Michal, Why hast thou deceived me thus, and let mine 
enemy go, that he is escaped? And Michal answered 
Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill 
thee ? 

Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to 
Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And 
he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was 
told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 
And Saul sent messengers to take David : and when they 
saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Sam- 
uel standing as head over them, the spirit of God came 
over the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 
And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, 
and they also prophesied. Then went he also to Ramah, 
and came to the great well that is in Secu : and he asked 
and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, 
Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went 
thither to Naioth in Ramah : and the spirit of God came 
upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until 
he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped 
off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, 
and lay down naked all that day and all that night. 
Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? 

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and 
said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine 
iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he 
seeketh my life? And he said unto him, God forbid; 



Old Testament Readings 177 

thou shalt not die : behold, my father doeth nothing either 
, great or small, but that he discloseth it unto me : and why- 
should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. 
And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father 
knoweth well that I have found grace in thine eyes ; and 
he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved ; 
but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there 
is but a step between me and death. Then said Jonathan 
unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even 
do it for thee. And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, 
to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to 
sit with the king at meat : but let me go, that I may hide 
myself in the field unto the third day at even. If thy 
father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked 
leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: 
for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 
If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: 
but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined 
by him. Therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for 
thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the 
Lord with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me 
thyself; for why shouldst thou bring me to thy father? 
And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I should 
at all know that evil were determined by my father to 
come upon thee, then would not I tell it to thee? Then 
said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance 
thy father answer thee roughly? And Jonathan said 
unto David, Come and let us go out into the field. And 
they went out both of them into the field. 

And Jonathan said unto David, The Lord, the God 
of Israel, be witness; when I have sounded my father 
about this time to-morrow, or the third day, behold, if 
there be good toward David, shall I not send unto thee, 
and disclose it unto thee? The Lord do so to Jonathan, 
and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, 
if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that 
thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as 



178 Old Test am en f Bead lugs 

• 

lie hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only 
while yet I live shew tne the kindness of the Lord, that 
I die not : but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness 
from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath 
cut off the enemies of David every one from the face 
of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the 
house of David, saying, And the Lord shall require it 
at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused 
David to swear again, for the love that he had to him: 
for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jona- 
than said unto him, To-morrow is the new moon: and 
thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. 
And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go 
down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst 
hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt 
remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows 
on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And 
behold, I will send the lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. 
If I say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side 
of thee: take them, and come; for there is peace to thee 
and no hurt, as the Lord liveth. But if I say thus unto 
the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee: go thy 
way ; for the Lord hath sent thee away. And as touching 
the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the 
Lord is between thee and me for ever. 

So David hid himself in the field: and when the new 
moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 
And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even 
unto the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and 
Abner sat by Saul's side : but David's place was empty. 
Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he 
thought, Something has befallen him, he is not clean; 
surely he is not clean. And it came to pass on the 
row after the new moon, which was the second day, 
that David's place was empty: And Saul said unto Jona- 
than his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to 
at, neither yesterday, nor to-day? And Jonathan 



Old Testament Readings 179 

o 

answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go 
to Beth-lehem : and he said, Let me go, I pray thee ; for 
our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, 
he hath commanded me to be there ; and now, if I have 
found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray 
thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he is not come 
unto the king's table. Then Saul's anger was kindled 
against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of 
a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou 
hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, and 
unto the shame of thy mother's nakedness? For as 
long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou 
shalt not be stablished, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore 
now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely 
die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said 
unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what 
hath he done? And Saul cast his spear at him to smite 
him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of 
his father to put David to death. So Jonathan arose 
from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the 
second day of the month : for he was grieved for David, 
because his father had done him shame. 

And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan 
went out into the field at the time appointed with David, 
and a little lad with him. And he said unto the lad, 
Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the 
lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the 
lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan 
had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not 
the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the 
lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad 
gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But 
the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David 
knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons unto 
his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. 
And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of 
a place toward the South, and fell on his face to the 



180 Old Testament Headings 

• 

ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed 
one another, and wept one with another, until David ex- 
led. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, for- 
asmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of 
the Lord, saying, The Lord shall be between me and 
thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And 
he arose and departed : and Jonathan went into the city. 
/. Sam. xvii, 55-58; XVtii, 1-16; xix, xx. 



THE SHEPHERD BOY WHO BECAME KING 

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to 
his house to Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel fame no 
more to see Saul until the day of his death ; for Samuel 
mourned for Saul : and the Lord repented that he had 
made Saul king over Israel. 

And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou 
mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being 
king over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will 
send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite : for I have provided 
me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can 
I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, 
Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacri- 
fice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and 
I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt 
anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And 
Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to 
])eth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet 
him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he 
:. Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: 
sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. 
And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to 
his sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, 
that he looked on Kliab. and said, Surely the Lord's 
anointed is before him, But the Lord said unto Samuel, 



Old Testament Readings 181 

■ • 

Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his 
stature; because I have rejected him; for the Lord seeth 
not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward ap- 
pearance, but the Lord loqketh on the heart. Then 
Jesse called Abinidab, and made him pass before Samuel. 
And then he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. 
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, 
Neither hath the Lord chosen this. And Jesse made 
seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel 
said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen thee. And 
Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And 
he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, 
he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, 
Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he 
come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now 
he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, 
and goodly to look upon. And the Lord said, Arise, 
anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn 
of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren ; and 
the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from 
that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to 
Ramah. 

/. Sam. xv, 34, 35 ; xvl, 1-13. 



DAVID'S LAMENT OVER JONATHAN 

AFTER THE SLAYING OF SAUL AND HIS 
THREE SONS, JONATHAN, ABINADAB, AND 
MALCHISHUA, BY THE PHILISTINES 

'And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul 
and over Jonathan his son: and he bade them teach the 
children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is 
written in the book of Jashar. 

Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! 
How are the mighty fallen! 



182 Old Testament Headings 

• 

Tell it not in Gath, 

Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; 

the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 
Ye mountains of Gilboa, 
Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, 

neither fields of offerings: 
For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, 
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, 
The bow of Jonathan turned not back, 
And the sword of Saul returned not empty. 
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, 
And in their death they were not divided ; 
They were swifter than eagles, 
They were stronger than lions. 
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, 
Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, 
Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! 
Jonathan is slain upon thy high places. 
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: 
Very pleasant hast thou been unto me : 
Thy love to me was wonderful, 
Passing the love of women. 
How are the mighty fallen, 
And the weapons of war perished! 

II. Sam. i, 17-27. 



A KING'S GRATITUDE 

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, 
and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over 
Jtldah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he 
reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the 



Old Testament Readings 183 

• 

Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto 
David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the 
lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David 
cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the 
strong hold of Zion ; the same is the city of David. And 
David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, 
let him get up to the watercourse, and smite the lame 
and the blind, that are hated of David's soul. Where- 
fore they say, There are the blind and the lame ; he can- 
not come into the house. And David dwelt in the strong 
hold, and called it the city of David. And David built 
round about from Millo and inward. And David waxed 
greater and greater ; for the Lord, the God of hosts, was 
with him. 

And David reigned over all Israel; and David exe- 
cuted judgement and justice unto all his people. And 
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehosha- 
phat the son of Ahilud was recorder : and Zadok the son 
of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were 
priests; and Seraiah was scribe; and Benaiah the son of 
Jehoiada was over the Cherethetites and the Pelethites; 
and David's sons were priests. 

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the 
house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jona- 
than's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a 
servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto 
David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? 
And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is 
there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew 
the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the 
king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba 
said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir 
the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king David sent, 
and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of 
Ammiel, from Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth, the son 
of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell 



184 Old Testament Headings 

on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephi- 
bosheth. And he answered, Heboid thy servant! And 
David said unto him, Fear not : for I will surely shew 
thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will 
restore thee all the land of Saul thy father ; and thou 
shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he did 
obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou 
shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then 
the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto 
him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have 
I given unto thy master's son. And thou shalt till the 
land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants ; and 
thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may 
have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son 
shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen 
sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, 
According to all that my lord the king commandeth his 
servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, 
said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the 
king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose 
name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of 
Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephi- 
bosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually 
at the king's table ; and he was lame on both feet. 

IL Sam, v, 4-10; viii, 15-18; ix. 



THE MAN OF WISDOM 

King Solomon 

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom 

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream 
by night: and God said. Ask what I shall give thee. And 
Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David 
my fathe great kindness, according as he walked before 



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• 

thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness 
of heart with thee ; and thou hast kept for him this great 
kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his 
throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, 
thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my 
father: and I am but a little ;child; I know not how to 
go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of 
thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that 
cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give 
thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge 
thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; 
for who is able to judge this thy great people? 

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had 
asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou 
hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself 
long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor 
hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked 
for thyself understanding to discern judgement; behold, 
I have done according to thy word : lo, I have given thee 
a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath 
been none like before thee, neither after thee shall any 
arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that 
which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so 
that there shall not be any among the kings like unto 
thee, all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, 
to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father 
David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. 

And Solomon awoke, and, behold, it was a dream : and 
he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, 
and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his 
servants. 

/. Kings, Hi, 5-15. 

THE WISDOM OF KING SOLOMON" 

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding 
exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand 



186 Old Testament Headings 
• 

that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom ex- 
celled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and 
all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all 
men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Ileman, and Calcol, 
and Darda, the sons of Mahol : and his fame was in all 
the nations round about. And he spake three thousand 
proverbs ; and his songs were a thousand and five. And 
he spake of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon 
even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he 
spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, 
and of fishes. And there came of all peoples to hear the 
wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which 
had heard of his wisdom. 

/. Kings, iv, 29-34. 



Section VI 
WORDS OF WISDOM 

MAINLY FROM THE WRITINGS OF KING SOLOMON, THE 
MAN OF WISDOM 



THE VALUE OF WISDOM 

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, 

And the man that getteth understanding. 

For the merchandise of it is better 

Than the merchandise of silver, 

And the gain thereof than fine gold. 

She is more precious than rubies: 

And none of the things thou canst desire 

Are to be compared unto her. 

Length of days is in her right hand ; 

In her left hand are riches and honor. 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

And all her paths are peace. 

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her. 

And happy is every one that retaineth her. 

Prov. Hi, 11-18L 

THE WISDOM THAT COMETH OF GOD 

Whence then cometh wisdom? 

And where is the place of understanding? 

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, 

And kept close from the fowls of the air. 

Destruction and Death say, 

We have heard a rumour thereof with our ears. 

God understandeth the way thereof, 

And he knoweth the place thereof. 

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, 

And seeth under the whole heaven; 

To make a weight for the wind; 

189 



190 Old Testament Headings 

• 

Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure. 

When he made a decree for the rain, 

And a way for the lightning of the thunder: 

Then did he see it, and declare it; 

He established it, yea, and searched it out. 

And unto man he said, 

Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; 

And to depart from evil is understanding. 

Job, xxviii, 20-28. 

WISDOM COMPARED 

WITH GOLD AND FINE JEWELS AND 
PRECIOUS THINGS OF THE EARTH 

But where shall wisdom be found? 

And where is the place of understanding? 

Man knoweth not the price thereof; 

Neither is it found in the land of the living. 

The deep saith, It is not with me. 

It cannot be gotten for gold, 

Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. 

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, 

With the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 

Gold and glass cannot equal it: 

Neither shall the exchange thereof be jewels of fine gold. 

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: 

Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies. 

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, 

Neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 

Job, xxviii, 12-19. 

THE WISDOM OF YOUTH 

*And EKhu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and 

said, 
I am young, and ye are very old; 



Old Testament Readings 191 

* 

Wherefore I held back, and durst not shew you mine 
opinion. 

I said, Days should speak, 

And multitude of years should teach wisdom. 

But there is a spirit in man, 

And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understand- 
ing. 

It is not the great that are wise, 

Nor the aged that understand judgement. 

Job, xxxii, 6-9, 

WISDOM AND FILIAL OBEDIENCE 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: 

But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, 

And forsake not the law of thy mother: 

For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, 

And chains about thy neck. 

Prov. i, 7-9, 

THE INSTRUCTION OF A FATHER 

Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, 
And attend to know understanding: 
For I give you good doctrine; 
Forsake ye not my law. 
For I was a son unto my father, 
Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 
And he taught me, and said unto me, 
Let thine heart retain my words ; 
Keep my commandments, and live : 
Get wisdom, get understanding; 

Forget it not, neither decline from the words of my 
mouth : 



192 Old Testament Headings 

+ 

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; 

Love her, and she shall keep thee. 

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: 

Yea, with all thou hast gotten get understanding. 

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: 

She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace 

her. 
She shall give to thine head a chaplet of grace: 
A crown of beauty shall she deliver to thee. 

Prov. iv, 1-9. 



A FATHER'S LAW 

My son, forget not my law; 

But let thine heart keep my commandments: 

For length of days, and years of life, 

And peace, shall they add to thee. 

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee : 

Bind them about thy neck; 

Write them upon the table of thy heart: 

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding 

In the sight of God and man. 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, 

And lean not upon thine own understanding: 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

And he shall direct thy paths. 

Be not wise in thine own eyes ; 

Fear the Lord, and depart from evil : 

Honour the Lord with thy substance, 

And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, 

And thy fats shall overflow with new wine. 

Prov. Hi, 1-7, 9, 10. 



Old Testament Readings 193 



THE OBEDIENT SONS 

A LESSON IN FILIAL DUTY 

The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord in 
the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of 
Judah, saying, 

Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto 
them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into 
one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. 
Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of 
Habazziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the 
whole house of the Rechabites ; and I brought them into 
the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons 
of Hanah, the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which 
was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the 
chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper 
of the door; and I set before the sons of the house of 
the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and £ups, and I said 
unto them, Drink ye wine. 

But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab 
the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, 
Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons, for 
ever: neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor 
plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye 
shall dwell in tents ; that ye may live many days in the 
land wherein ye sojourn. And we have obeyed the 
voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all 
that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, 
our wives, our sons, nor our daughters: nor to build 
houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, 
nor field, nor seed : but we have dwelt in tents, and have 
obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our 
father commanded us. But it came to pass, when 
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, 
that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear 



104 Old Testament Readings 

• 

of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army 
of the Syrians; so we dwell at Jerusalem. 

Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, say- 
ing. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel : 
Go, and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants 
of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken 
to my words? saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab 
the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not 
to drink wine, are performed, and unto this day they 
drink none, for they obey their father's commandment: 
but I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speak- 
ing; and ye have not hearkened unto me. I have sent 
also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up 
early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every 
man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and 
go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall 
dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your 
fathers : but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened 
unto me. 

Forasmuch as the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab 
have performed the commandment of their father which 
he commanded them, but this people hath not hearkened 
unto me; therefore thus saith the Lord, the God of 
hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon 
Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the 
evil that I have pronounced against them: because I 
have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and 
I have called unto them, but they have not answered. 
And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, 
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Be- 
cause ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab 
your father, and kept all his precepts, and done accord- 
ing unto all that he commanded you ; therefore thus 

ith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab 
the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before 
me for ever. 

Jer. xxxv. 



Old Testament Readings 195 



INDUSTRY 

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; 
Consider her ways, and be wise: 
; Which having no chief, 
Overseer, or ruler, 
Provideth her meat in the summer, 
And gathereth her food in the harvest. 
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? 
When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ? 
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, 
A little folding of the hands to sleep: 
So shall thy poverty come as a robber, 
And thy want as an armed man. 

Prov. vi, 6-1 1. 



THE FIELD OF THE SLOTHFUL 

I went by the field of the slothful, 

And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, 

The face thereof was covered with nettles, 

And the stone wall thereof was broken down. 

Then I beheld, and considered well: 

I saw, and received instruction. 

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, 

A little folding of the hands to sleep : 

So shall thy poverty come as a robber ; 

And thy want as an armed man. 

Prov. xxiv, 30-34. 



GOOD AND EVIL 

1 

Keep thy tongue from evil, 

And thy lips from speaking guile. 



196 Old Testament Readings 

Depart from evil, and do good; 
Seek peace, and pursue it. 

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, 
And his ears are open unto their cry. 
The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, 
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 

Ps. xxxiv, 13-16. 



STRONG DRINK 

Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? WHo hath con- 
tentions ? 

Who hath complaining? Who hath wounds without 
cause? 

Who hath redness of eyes? 

They that tarry long at the wine; 

They that go to seek out mixed wine. 

Look not upon the wine when it is red, 

When it giveth colour in the cup, 

When it goeth down smoothly: 

At the last it biteth like a serpent, 

And stingeth like an adder. 



Trov. xxiii, 29-32. 



A SONG OF UNITY 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is 
For brethren to dwell together in unity! 

It is like the precious oil upon the head, 
That ran down upon the beard, 
Even Aaron's beard ; 
That came down upon the skirt of his garments; 



Old Testament Readings 197 

m 

Like the dew of Hermon, 

That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: 
For there the Lord commanded the blessing, 
Even life for evermore. 

Ps. cxxxiii. 



THE STRENGTH OF LOVE 

FROM THE SONG OF SONGS 

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, 

As a seal upon thine arm: 

For love is strong as death; 

Jealousy is cruel as the grave: 

The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, 

A very flame of the Lord. 

Many waters cannot quench love, 

Neither can the floods drown it: 

If a man would give all the substance of his house for 

love, 
He would be utterly condemned. 

The Song of Songs, viii, 6. 



THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN 

FROM THE WISE SAYINGS OF KING LEMUEL 
THE ORACLE WHICH HIS MOTHER TAUGHT HIM 

A virtuous woman who can find? 

For her price is far above rubies. 

The heart of her husband trusteth in her, 

And he shall have no lack of gain. 

She doeth him good and not evil 

All the days of her life. 

She seeketh wool and flax, 

And worketh willingly with her hands. 



198 Old Testament Readings 
• 

She is like the merchant-ships; 

She bringeth her food from afar. 

She riseth also while it is yet night, 

And giveth meat to her household, 

And their task to her maidens. 

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: 

With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 

She girdeth her loins with strength, 

And maketh strong her arms. 

She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: 

Her lamp goeth not out by night. 

She layeth her hands to the distaff, 

And her hands hold the spindle. 

She spreadeth out her hand to the poor; 

Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 

She is not afraid of the snow for her household; 

For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 

She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; 

Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 

Her husband is known in the gates, 

^'hen he sitteth among the elders of the land. 

She maketh linen garments and selleth them; 

And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 

Strength and dignity are her clothing; 

And she laugheth at the time to come. 

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; 

And the law of kindness is on her tongue. 

She looketh well to the ways of her household, 

And eateth not the bread of idleness. 

Her children rise up, and call her blessed; 

ITer husband also, and he praiseth her, saying, 

Many daughters have done virtuously. 

But thou excellest them all. 

Prov. xxxi, 10-29. 



Old Testament Readings 199 



SHORT POEMS ABOUT MANY THINGS 

FROM THE SAYINGS OF SOLOMON AND OF AGUR THE SON 
OF JAKEH 

Two Things which I Desire 

Two things have I asked of thee; 

Deny me them not before I die: 

Remove far from me vanity and lies: 

Give me neither poverty nor riches; 

Feed me with the food that is needful for me : 

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? 

Or lest I be poor, and steal, 

And use profanely the name of my God. 

Prov. xxx, 7-9, 

Four Things too Wonderful for Me 

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, 

Yea, four which I know not: 

The way of an eagle in the air; 

The way of a serpent upon a rock; 

The way of a ship in the midst of the sea ; 

And the way of a man with a maid. 

Prov. xxx, 18, 19. 

Four Things Which the Earth Cannot Bear 

For three things the earth doth tremble, 

And for four which it cannot bear : 

For a servant when he is king; 

And a fool when he is filled with meat; 

For an odious woman when she is married; 

And an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 

Prov. xxx, 21-23. 



200 Old Testament Readings 



Four Things Which Are Little But Wise 

There be four things which are little upon the earth, 

But they are exceeding wise: 

The ants are a people not strong, 

Yet they provide their meat in the summer; 

The conies are but a feeble folk, 

Yet make they their houses in the rocks; 

The locusts have no king, 

Yet go they forth all of them by bands ; 

The lizard thou canst seize with thy hands, 

Yet she is in kings' palaces. 

PfOV. XXX, S24-28. 

Four Things Which Are Stately in Going 

There be three things which are stately in their march, 

Yea, four which are stately in going: 

The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, 

And turneth not away from any; 

The greyhound; the he-goat also; 

And the king, against whom there is no rising up. 

Prov. xxx, 29-31. 

Seven Things Which the Lord Hateth 

There be six things which the Lord hateth; 

Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: 

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, 

And hands that shed innocent blood ; 

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, 

Feet that be swift in running to mischief; 

A false witness that uttereth lies, 

And he that soweth discord among brethren. 

Prov. vi, 16-19. 



Old Testament Readings 201 



TIMES AND SEASONS 

To everything there is a season, and a time to every 
purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a 
time to die ; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that 
which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a 
time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to 
weep, and a time to laugh ; a time to mourn, and a time 
to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to 
gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time 
to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time 
to lose ; a time to keep, and a time to cast away ; a time 
to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and 
a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a 
time for war, and a time for peace. 

Eccles. in, 1-8. 



A LAMENT FOR VANISHED DAYS 

Oh that I were as in the months of old, 
As in the days when God watched over me; 
iWhen his lamp shined upon my head, 
And by his light I walked through darkness ; 
As I was in the ripeness of my days, 
When the secret of God was upon my tent ; 
iWhen the Almighty was yet with me, 
And my children were about me; 
When my steps were washed with butter, 
And the rock poured me out rivers of oil! 
iWhen I went forth to the gate unto the city, 
When I prepared my seat in the street, 
The young men saw me and hid themselves, 
And the aged rose up and stood; 
The princes refrained talking, 
And laid their hand on their mouth; 



202 Old Testament Headings 

» 

The voice of the nobles was hushed, 

And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; 

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me : 

Because I delivered the poor that cried, 

The fatherless also, that had none to help him. 

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon 

me: 
And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: 
My justice was as a robe and a diadem. 
I was eyes to the blind, 
And feet was I to the lame. 
I was a father to the needy: 

And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out. 
And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, 
And plucked the prey out of his teeth. 
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, 
And I shall multiply my days as the sand: 
My root is spread out to the waters, 
And the dew lieth all night upon my branch: 
My glory is fresh in me, 
And my bow is renewed in my hand. 
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, 
And kept silence for my counsel. 
After my words they spake not again; 
And my speech dropped upon them. 
And they waited for me as for the rain; 
And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 
If I laughed on them, they believed it not: 
And the light of my countenance they cast not down. 
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, 
And dwelt as a king in the army, 
As one that comforteth the mourners. 

Job, xxix. 









Old Testament Readings 203 

o 

YOUTH, OLD AGE AND THE GRAVE 

AN EPITOME OF LIFE 

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart 
cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways 
of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know 
thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into 
judgement. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, 
and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and the 
prime of life are vanity. 

Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 
or ever the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, 
when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; or 
ever the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, 
be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain: in 
the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, 
and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the 
grinders cease, because they are few, and those that 
look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors 
shall be shut in the street ; when the sound of the grind- 
ing is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, 
and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 
yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and ter- 
rors shall be in the way; and the almond tree shall 
blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and 
the caper-berry shall fail : because man goeth to his long 
home, and the mourners go about the streets: or ever 
the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, 
or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel 
broken at the cistern; and the dust return to the earth 
as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it. 
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. 

Eccles. xi, 9, 10; xii, 1-8. 



204 Old Testament Readings 



THE VANITY OF ALL THINGS 

FROM THE WORDS OF KOHELETH, OR THE PREACHER, 
WRITTEN BY SOLOMON, THE SON OF DAVID, KfNG IN 
JERUSALEM, IN THE DESPONDENCY OF OLD AGE, FOLLOWING 
HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 
I 

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vani- 
ties, all is vanity. What profit hath man of all his labour 
wherein he laboureth under the sun? One generation 
goeth, and another generation cometh; and the earth 
abideth forever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun 
goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he ariseth. 
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about 
unto the north ; it turneth about continually in its course, 
and the wind returneth again to its circuits. All the 
rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto 
the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again. 

All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter 
it: The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear 
filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which 
shall be; and that which hath been done is that which 
shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 
Is there a thing whereof men say, See, this is new? 
it hath been already, in the ages which were before us. 
There is no remembrance of the former generations; 
neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter 
generations that are to come, among those that shall 
come after. 

Eccles. i, i-ii. 



Section VII 
WORD-PICTURES OF WAR 

AND 
A SYMPOSIUM ON PEACE 

THE DESOLATIONS AND CRUELTIES OF WAR CONTRASTED 
WITH THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE 



A WAR PICTURE 

THE BATTLE OF AI 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be 
thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, 
and arise, go up to Ai : see, I have given into thy hand 
the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his 
land: and thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou 
didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, 
and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto your- 
selves : set thee an ambush for the £ity behind it. 

So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up 
to Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the 
mighty men of valour, and sent them forth by night. 
And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie 
in ambush against the city, behind the city : go not very 
far from the city, but be ye all ready : and I, and all the 
people that are with me, will approach unto the city: 
and it shall come to pass, when they come out against 
us, as at the first, that we will flee before them; and 
they will come out after us, till we have drawn them 
away from the city; for they will say, They flee before 
us, as at the first; so we will flee before them: and ye 
shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of 
the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your 
hand. And it shall be, when ye have seized upon the 
City, that ye shall set the city on fire; according to the 
word of the Lord shall ye do: see, I have commanded 
you. And Joshua sent them forth: and they went to 
the ambushment, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, 
on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night 
among the people. 

207 



208 Old Testament Readings 

» 

And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and mus- 
tered the people, and went up, he and the elders of 
Israel, before the people to Ai. And all the people, 
even the men of war that were with him, went up, 
and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched 
on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley be- 
tween him and Ai. And he took about five thousand 
men, and set them in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, 
on the west side of the city. So they set the people, 
even all the host that was on the north of the city, and 
their Hers in wait that were on the west of the city; 
and Joshua went that night into the midst of the vale. 

And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that 
they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city 
went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, 
at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he wist 
not that there was an ambush against him behind the 
city. And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were 
beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilder- 
ness. And all the people that were in the city were 
called together to pursue after them: and they pursued 
after Joshua, and were drawn away from the icity. 
And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went 
not out after Israel : and they left the city open, and 
pursued after Israel. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Stretch out the javelin 
that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into 
thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the javelin that 
was in his hand toward the city. And the ambush arose 
quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he 
had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, 
and took it; and they hasted and set the city on fire. 
And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, 
and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, 
and they had no power to flee this way or that way: 
and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back 
upon the pursuers. 






Old Testament Readings 209 

m 

Ajid when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush 
had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city as- 
cended, then they turned again, and slew the men of 
Ai. And the other came forth out of the city against 
them ; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this 
side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so 
that they let none of them remain or escape. And the 
king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua. 

And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end 
of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the 
wilderness wherein they pursued them, and they were 
all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were con- 
sumed, that all Israel returned unto Ai and smote it with 
the edge of the sword. And all that fell that day, both 
of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the 
men of Ai. For Joshua drew not back his hand, where- 
with he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly 
destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Only the cattle 
and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto 
themselves, according unto the word of the Lord which 
he commanded Joshua. 

So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, 
even a desolation, unto this day. And the king of Ai 
he hanged on a tree until the eventide: and at the go- 
ing down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took 
his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the en- 
tering of the gate of the city, and raised thereon a 
great heap of stones, unto this day. 

Josh, viii, 1-30. 



THE WAR WITH THE FIVE KINGS 

IN WHICH JOSHUA COMMANDETH THE SUN TO STAND 

STILL 

Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jeru- 
salem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly 



210 Old Testament Readings 

• 

destroyed it ; as he had done to Jericho and her king, 
so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhab- 
itants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were 
among them; that they feared greatly, because Gibeon 
was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because 
it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were 
mighty. Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem 
sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king 
of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto 
Debir king of Eglon, saying, Come up unto me, and 
help me, and let us smite Gibeon ; for it hath made peace 
with Joshua and with the children of Israel. Therefore 
the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, 
the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of 
Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves to- 
gether, and went up, they and all their hosts, and en- 
camped against Gibeon, and made war against it. And 
the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to 
Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; 
come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for 
all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill 
Country are gathered together against us. So Joshua 
went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with 
him, and all the mighty men of valour. And the Lord 
said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered 
them into thine hands ; there shall not a man of them 
stand before thee. Joshua therefore came upon them 
suddenly; for he went up from Gilgal all the night. 
And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and he 
slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased 
them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and smote 
them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. And it came to 
pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were 
in the going down of Beth-horon, that the Lord cast 
down great stones from heaven upon them unto Aze- 
kah, and they died: they were more which died with 



Old Testament Readings 211 

» 

the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel: 
slew with the sword. 

Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the 
Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of 
Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, 

Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; 

And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon. 

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the! 
nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not 
this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stayed 
in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about 
a whole day. And there was no day like that before it 
or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a 
man : for the Lord fought for Israel. 

Josh x, i-igg 



THE WAR SONG OF DEBORAH 

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoatri 
on that day, saying, 

For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, 
For that the people offered themselves willingly, 
Bless ye the Lord. 

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; 
I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; 
I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel. 
Lord, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, 
When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, 
The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, 
Yea, the clouds dropped water. 

The mountains flowed down at the presence of the Lord, 
Even yon Sinai at the presence of the Lord, the God of 
Israel. 



212 Old Testament Readings 

m 

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, 

In the days of Jael, the high ways were unoccupied, 

And the travellers walked through byways. 

The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, 

Until that I Deborah arose, 

That I arose a mother in Israel. 

They chose new gods; 

Then was war in the gates: 

Was there a shield or spear seen 

Among forty thousand in Israel? 

My heart is toward the governors of Israel, 

That offered themselves willingly among the people: 

Bless ye the Lord. 

Tell of it, ye that ride on white asses, 

Ye that sit on rich carpets, 

And ye that walk by the way. 

Far from the noise of archers, in the places of draw- 
ing water, 

There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, 

Even the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. 

Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates. 

Awake, awake, Deborah; 

Awake, awake, utter a song: 

Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son 
of Abinoam. 

Then came down a remnant of the nobles and the 
people ; 

The Lord came down for me against the mighty. 

Out of Ephraim came down they whose root is in 
Amalek ; 

After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; 

Out of Machir came down governors, 

And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal's staff. 

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; 

As was Issachar, so was Barak; 

Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. 

By the watercourses of Reuben 



Old Testament Readings 213 

There were great resolves of heart. 

Why satest thou among the sheepfolds, 

To hear the pipings for the flocks? 

At the watercourses of Reuben 

There were great searchings of heart. 

Gilead abode beyond Jordan: 

And Dan, why did he remain in ships? 

Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, 

And abode by his creeks. 

Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto 

the death, 
And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field. 
The kings came and fought; 
Then fought the kings of Canaan, 
In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo : 
They took no gain of money. 
They fought from heaven, 

The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 
The river Kishon swept them away, 
The ancient river, the river Kishon. 
O my soul, march on with strength. 
Then did the horsehoofs stamp 
By reason of the prancings, 
The prancings of their strong ones. 
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, 
Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; 
Because they came not to the help of the Lord, 
To the help of the Lord against the mighty. 
Blessed above women shall Jael be, 
The wife of Heber the Kenite, 
Blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 
He asked water, and she gave him milk; 
She brought him butter in a lordly dish. 
She put her hand to the nail, 
And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; 
And with the hammer she smote Sisera, 
She smote through his head, 



214 Old Testament Readings 

• 

Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples. 

At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay : 

At her feet he bowed, he fell: 

Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 

Through the window she looked forth, and cried, 

The mother of Sisera cried through the lattice, 

Why is his chariot so long in coming? 

Why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 

Her wise ladies answered her, 

Yea, she returned answ T er to herself, 

Have they not found, have they not divided tfifi spoil? 

A damsel, two damsels to every man; 

To Sisera a spoil of divers colours, 

A spoil of divers colours of embroidery, 

Of divers colours of embroidery on both sides, 

On the necks of the spoil ? 

So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: 

But let them that love him be as the sun 

When he goeth forth in his might. 

Judges, v. 



THE CAPTIVES 

AN ELEGY 

By the rivers of Babylon 

There we sat down, yea, we wept, 

When we remembered Zion. 
Upon the willows in the midst thereof 
We hanged up our harps. 

For there they that led us captive required of us songs, 
And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, 

Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 
How shall we sing the Lord's song 
In a strange land? 



Old Testament Readings 215 

m 

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, 

Let my right hand forget her cunning. 

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, 

If I remember thee not; 

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my £hief joy. 

Remember, O Lord, against the children of Edom the 

day of Jerusalem; 
Who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 
O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, 
Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hasti 

served us; 
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy 
little ones against the rock. 

Ps. cxxxvU. 

THE DESTRUCTION OF TYRE 

A PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL 

Ajid it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first 
day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto 
me, saying, Son of man, because that Tyre hath said 
against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gate 
of the peoples; she is turned unto me: I shall be re- 
plenished, now that she is laid waste: therefore thus 
saith the Lord God: 

Behold, I am against thee, O Tyre, and will cause 
many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth 
his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls 
of Tyre, and break down her towers : I will also scrape 
her dust from her, and make her a bare rock. She 
shall be a place for' the spreading of nets in the midst of 
the sea; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and 
she shall become a spoil to the nations. And her daugh- 
ters which are in the field shall be slain with the sword : 
and they shall know that I am the Lord. 






21 G Old Testament Readings 

• 

For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will bring 
upon Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of 
kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, 
and with horsemen, and a company, and much people. 
He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: 
and he shall make forts against thee, and cast up a mount 
against thee, and raise up the buckler against thee. And 
he shall set his battering engines against thy walls, and 
with his axes he shall break down thy towers. By rea- 
son of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover 
thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horse- 
men, and of the wagons, and of the chariots, when he 
shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city where- 
in is made a breach. With the hoofs of his horses shall 
he tread down all thy street: he shall slay thy people 
with the sword, and the pillars of thy strength shall go 
down to the ground. And they shall make a spoil of 
thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and 
they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy plea- 
sant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy tim- 
ber and thy dust in the midst of the waters. 

And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and 
the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I 
will make thee a bare rock : thou shalt be a place for the 
spreading of nets; thou shalt be built no more: for I 
the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God. 

Thus saith the Lord God to Tyre: Shall not the 
isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded 
groan, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee? 
Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from 
their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off 
their broidered garments : they shall clothe themselves 
with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall 
tremble every moment, and be astonished at thee. And 
they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, 
How art thou destroyed, thou wast inhabited of seafaring 
men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, 



Old Testament Readings 217 

« 

she and her inhabitants, which caused their terror to 
be on all that haunt it! Now shall the isles tremble in 
the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea 
shall be dismayed at thy departure. 

For thus saith the Lord God: When I shall make 
thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited ; 
when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and the great 
waters shall cover thee; then will I bring thee down 
with them that descend into the pit, to the people of old 
time, and will make thee to dwell in the nether parts of 
the earth, in the places that are desolate of old, with 
them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited ; 
and I will set glory in the land of the living : I will make 
thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou 
be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, 
saith the Lord God. 

Thy riches, and thy wares, thy merchandise, thy mar- 
iners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the exchangers of 
thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in 
thee, with all thy company which is in the midst of 
thee, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of thy 
ruin. At the sound of the cry of thy pilots the suburbs 
shall shake. And all that handle the oar, the mariners, 
and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their 
ships, they shall stand upon the land, and shall cause 
their voice to be heard over thee, and shall cry bitterly, 
and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wal- 
low themselves in the ashes: and they shall make them- 
selves bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and 
they shall weep for thee in bitterness of soul with bitter 
mourning. 

And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation 
for thee, and lament over thee, saying, Who is there 
like Tyre, like her that is brought to silence in the midst 
of the sea? When thy wares went forth out of the 
seas, thou filledst many peoples; thou didst enrich the 
kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and 



218 Old Testament Readings 

• 

of thy merchandise. In the time that thou wast broken 
by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy merchandise 
and all thy company did fall in the midst of thee. All 
the inhabitants of the isles are astonished at thee, and 
their kings are horribly afraid, they are troubled in their 
countenance. The merchants among the people hiss at 
thee; thou art become a terror, and thou shalt never 
be any more. 

Ezek. xxvi; xxvii, 27-36. 



WAR ANTHEM 
a hymn of victory 

The People 

•My heart is fixed, O God; 

1 will sing, yea, I will sing praises, even with my glory. 

Awake, psaltery and harp: 

•I myself will awake right early. 

I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples : 
And I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 
For thy mercy is great above the heavens, 
And thy truth reacheth unto the skies. 

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: 
And glory above all the earth. 

The King 

That thy beloved may be delivered, 
Save with thy right hand, and answer us. 

God hath spoken in his holiness; "I will exult: 

"I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of 
Succoth. 



Old Testament Readings 219 

"Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; 

"Ephraim also is the defence of mine head; Judah is 
my sceptre. 
"Moab is my washpot ; upon Edom will I cast my shoe 2 

"Over Philistia will I shout." 
Who will bring me into the fenced city? 

Who hath led me unto Edom? 
Hast not thou cast us off, O God? 

And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts. 
Give us help against the adversary: 

For vain is the help of man. 

The People 

Through God we shall do valiantly: 

For he it is that shall tread down our adversaries. 

Ps. cviik 



WAR ANTHEM 

a hymn of defeat 

The People 

O God, thou hast cast us off, thou has broken us downj 
Thou hast been angry ; O restore us again. 
Thou hast made the land to tremble ; thou hast rent it : 
Heal the breaches thereof ; for it shaketh. 

Thou hast shewed thy people hard things : 
Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering. 
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, 
That they may flee from before the bow. 

The King 

That thy beloved may be delivered, 
Save with thy right hand, and answer us. 



220 Old Testament Readings 

• 

God hath spoken in his holiness; "I will exult: 

"I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of 
Succoth. 
'"Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; 

"Ephraim also is the defence of mine head; Judah is 
my sceptre. 
"Moab is my washpot ; upon Edom will I east my shoe : 
"Philistia, shout thou because of me." 

iWho will bring me into the strong city? 

Who hath led me unto Edom? 
Hast not thou, O God, cast us off? 

And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts. 
Give us help against the adversary: 

For vain is the help of man. 

The People 

Through God we shall do valiantly: 

For he it is that shall tread down our adversaries. 

P*. Ir* 



SIDELIGHTS UPON WAR 

ITS SPECTACULAR AND ITS CRUEL SIDES 
AS INSTANCED IN SHORT PASSAGES FROM 
VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 

The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant 
men are in scarlet: the chariots flash with steel in the 
day of his preparation, and the spears are shaken ter- 
ribly. The chariots rage in the streets, they justle one 
against another in the broad ways: the appearance of 
them is like torches, they run like the lightnings. 

Nahum-, ii, 3, 4. 



Old Testament Readings 221 

The noise of the whip, and the noise of the rattling 
of wheels; and prancing horses, and jumping chariots; 
the horsemen mounting, and the flashing sword, and the 
glittering spear; and a multitude of slain, and a great 
heap of carcases : and there is none end of the corpses ; 
they stumble upon their corpses. 

Nahum, iii, 2, 3. 

Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are 
more fierce than the evening wolves ; and their horsemen 
spread themselves: yea, their horsemen come from far; 
they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour. They come 
all of them for violence; their faces are set eagerly as 
the east wind; and they gather captives as the sand. 

Hab. i, 8, 9. 

Behold, I will bring upon Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king 
of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, 
and with chariots, and with horsemen, and a company, 
and much people. He shall slay with the sword thy 
daughters in the field: and he shall make forts against 
thee, and cast up a mount against thee, and raise 
up the buckler against thee. And he shall set his bat- 
tering engines against thy walls, and with his axes he 
shall break down thy towers. By reason of the abund- 
ance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls 
shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the 
wagons, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into 
thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a 
breach. With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread 
down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people with the 
sword, and the pillars of thy strength shall go down to 
the ground. And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, 
and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall 
break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses : 
and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy 
dust in the midst of the waters. 

From "The Destruction of Tyre'' Ez. xxvi, 7-12. 



222 Old Testament Readings 



A SYMPOSIUM ON PEACE 

an arrangement of selections and passages 
having peace as the text, taken from 
various portions of the old testament 

The Prince of Peace 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; 
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and 
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty 
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the in- 
crease of his government and of peace there shall be no 
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, 
to establish it, and to uphold it with judgement and with 
righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal 
of the Lord of hosts shall perform this. 

Is. ix, 6, 7. 

A Promise of Universal Peace 

And he shall judge between many peoples, and shall 
reprove strong nations afar off; and they shall beat 
their swords into plowshares, and their spears into prun- 
inghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 
neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall 
sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree ; and 
none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord 
of hosts hath spoken it. For all the people will walk 
every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in 
the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. 

Micah, iv, 3-5. 

And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the 
leopard shall lie down with the kid ; and the calf and the 
young lion and the fatling together: and a little child 
shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; 
their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion 



Old Testament Readings 223 

• 

shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child 
shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child 
shall put his hand on the basilisk's den. They shall 
not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the 
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the 
waters cover the sea. 

Is. x%, 6-9. 

Then judgement shall dwell in the wilderness, and 
righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field. And the 
work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of 
; righteousness quietness and confidence for ever. And 
my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in 
sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. 

Is. xxxii, 16-18L 



THE MESSENGER OF PEACE 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him 
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that 
bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; 
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! The voice 
of thy watchmen! They lift up the voice, together do 
they sing; for they shall see, eye to eye, when the Lord 
returneth to Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, 
ye waste places of Jerusalem. The Lord hath made 
bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and 
all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our 
God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, 
touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; 
be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord. For 
ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by 
flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God 
of Israel will be your rearward. 

Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be ex- 
alted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Like as 



224 Old Testament Readings 

many were astonied at thee, (his visage was so marred 
more than any man, and his form more than the sons 
of men,) so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall 
shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been 
told them they shall see; and that which they had not 
heard shall they understand. 

Who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the! 
arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before 
him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: 
he hath no form nor comeliness ; and when we see him, 
there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was 
despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and 
acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide 
their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sor- 
rows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, 
and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgres- 
sions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastise- 
ment of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes 
we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; 
we have turned every one to his own way; and thg 
Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, yet he humbled himself and opened 
not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, 
and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, 
he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judge- 
ment he was taken away ; and as for his generation, who 
among them considered that he was cut off out of the: 
land of the living? for the transgression of my people 
was he stricken. And they made his grave with the 
wicked, and with the rich in his death ; although he had 
done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put 
him to grief : when thou shalt make his soul an offering 
for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, 
and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his 
hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall 



Old Testament Readings 225 

be satisfied : by his knowledge shall my righteous servant 
justify many : and he shall bear their iniquities. There- 
fore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he 
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured 
out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the 
transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made 
intercession for the transgressors. 

Is. lit, 7-15; Hit, 8. 



THE KING OF PEACE 

The burden of the word of the Lord upon the land 
of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be its resting place: 
for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is 
toward the Lord: and Hamath also which bordereth 
thereon: Tyre and Zidon, because she is very wise. 
And Tyre did build herself a strong hold, and heaped 
up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the 
streets. Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he 
will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be de- 
voured with fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza 
also, and shall be sore pained; and Ekron, for her ex- 
pectation shall be ashamed: and the king shall perish 
from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And 
a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the 
pride of the Philistines. And I will take away his blood 
out of his mouth, and his abominations from between 
his teeth ; and he also shall be a remnant of our God : 
and he shall be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a 
Jebusite. And I will encamp about mine house against 
the army, that none pass through or return: and no 
oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now 
I have seen with mine eyes. 

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; 
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: 



226 Old Testament Readings 

o 

Behold, thy king cometh unto thee: 
He is just, and having salvation; 

Lowly, and riding upon an ass, 

Even upon a colt, the foal of an ass. 

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the 
horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut 
off; and he shall speak peace unto the nations: and his 
dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to 
the ends of the earth. As for thee also, because of the 
blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners 
out of the pit wherein is no w r ater. Turn you to the 
strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I 
declare that I will render double unto thee. For I have 
bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim ; 
and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, Q 
Greece, and I will make them as the sword of a mighty 
man. 

And the Lord shall be seen over them, 

And his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: 

And the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, 
And shall go with whirlwinds of the south. 

The Lord of hosts shall defend them; 

And they shall devour, and shall tread down tKe 
sling stones; 
And they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine : 
And they shall be filled like bowls, like the corners 
of the altar. 

And the Lord their God shall save them in that day 

as the flock of his people: 
For they shall be as the stones of a ;crown, lifted on 

high over his land. 
For how great is his goodness, and how great is his 

beauty ! 



Old Testament Readings 227 

Corn shall make the young men flourish, and new 
wine the maids. 

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, 
even of the Lord that maketh lightnings ; and he shall 
give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the 
field. For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the 
diviners have seen a lie ; and they have told false dreams, 
they comfort in vain: therefore they go their way like 
sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd. 
Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will 
punish the he-goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited 
his flock the house of Judah, and shall make them as 
his goodly horse in the battle. From him shall come 
forth the corner stone, from him the nail, from him 
the battle bow, from him every exactor together. And 
they shall be as mighty men, treading down their enemy 
in the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall 
fight, because the Lord is with them: and the riders on 
horses shall be confounded. And I will strengthen the 
house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and 
I will bring them again, for I have mercy upon them; 
and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: 
for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them. And 
they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their 
heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children 
shall see it, and rejoice; their heart shall be glad in the 
Lord. I will hiss for them, and gather them ; for I have 
redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have 
increased. And I will sow them among the peoples ; 
and they shall remember me in far countries : and they 
shall live with their children, and shall return. I will 
bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather 
them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land 
of Gilead and Lebanon ; and place shall not be found 
for them. And he shall pass through the sea of afflic- 
tion, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the 



228 Old Testament Readings 

• 

depths of the Nile shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria 
shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall 
depart away. And I will strengthen them in the Lord; 
and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith 
the Lord. 

Open thy doors, O Lebanon, 

That the fire may devour thy cedars! 

Howl, O fir tree, for the cedar is fallen, 
Because the goodly ones are spoiled: 

Howl, O ye oaks of Bashan, 

For the strong forest is ;come down ! 

A voice of the howling of the shepherds! 

For their glory is spoiled. 
A voice of the roaring of young lions! 

For the pride of Jordan is spoiled. 

Zech. ix-xi, 1-3. 



THE REIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes 
shall rule in judgement. And a man shall be as an 
hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the 
tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow 
of a great rock in a weary land. And the eyes of them 
that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear 
shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall under- 
stand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall 
be ready to speak plainly. The vile person shall no more 
be called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. 
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will 
work iniquity, to practise profaneness, and to utter 
error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the 



Old Testament Readings 229 

hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 
The instruments also of the churls are evil: he de- 
viseth wicked devices to destroy the meek with lying 
words, even when the needy speaketh right. But the 
liberal deviseth liberal things; and in liberal things shall 
he continue. 

He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; 
he that despiseth the gain of oppression, that shaketh his 
hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears 
from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from look- 
ing upon evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of de- 
fence shall be the munitions of rocks: his bread shall 
be given him ; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall 
see the king in his beauty: they shall behold a far 
stretching land. Thine heart shall muse on the terror: 
where is he that counted, where is he that weighed the 
tribute? where is he that counted the towers? Thou 
shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech 
that thou canst not perceive; of a strange tongue that 
thou canst not understand. 

Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine 
eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that 
shall not be removed, the stakes whereof shall never be 
plucked up, neither shall any of the cords thereof be 
broken. But there the Lord will be with us in majesty, 
a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go 
no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass there- 
by. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our law- 
giver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. Thy 
tacklings are loosed; they could not strengthen the foot 
of their mast, they could not spread the sail ; then was the 
prey of a great spoil divided; the lame took the prey. 
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people 
that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. 

Is. xxx, 1-8; xxxiii, 15-24. 



230 Old "Testament Readings 

• 

NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH 

Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the 
cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in 
it: so will I do for my servants' sake, that I may not 
destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out 
of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my moun- 
tains : and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants 
shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, 
and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down 
in, for my people that have sought me. But ye that 
forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that 
prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled 
wine unto Destiny ; I will destine you to the sword, and 
ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I 
called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; 
but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose 
that wherein I delighted not. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my ser- 
vants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry : behold, my 
sen-ants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, 
my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: be- 
hold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall 
cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of 
spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto 
my chosen, and the Lord God shall slay thee; and he 
shall call his servants by another name : so that he who 
blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the 
God of truth ; and he that sweareth in the earth shall 
swear by the God of truth ; because the former troubles 
are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine 

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth : 
and the former things shall not be remembered, nor 
come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever 
in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem 
a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice 



Old Testament Readings 231 

in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice :f 
weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice 
of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant 

] r an old man that hath not filled his days : for the 
child shall die an hundred years old, and the sinner be- 
ing an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they 
shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall 
plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall 
not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and 
another eat: for as the aays of a tree shah he the hays 
of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work 
of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring 
forth far calamity; for they are the see:: of the blessed 
of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it 
shah. ::rr.e t: o a s s . that, before they call, I will answer; 
and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf 
and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat 
straw hoe the ::■: ar. a hao shah he the servient's rateat. 
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy moun- 
tain, saith the Lord. 

Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and 
the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will 
build unto me? and what place shall be my rest? 
For all these things hath my hand made, and so all 
these things came to be, saith the Lord : but to this man 
will I look, even to him that is poor and of a ra mi rile 
spirit, and that trembleth at my word. He that killeth 
an c he that slayeth a man; he that sacrificeth a 

lamb, as he that breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth 
an oblation, as he that offereth swine's blood; he that 
burnetii frankin s he that blesseth an idol; yea,j 

they ha en their owr 

lighteth in their abominations; I also will choose their 
delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; be- 
cause when I called, none did en I spa 
they did not hear: but they did that which was evil in 
min: and chose that wherein I delighted not. 



232 Old Testament Readings 

Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his 
-word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out 
for my name's sake, have said, Let the Lord be glorified, 
that we may see your joy; but they shall be ashamed. 
A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the 
temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense 
to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth ; 
before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 
Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such 
things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation 
be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, 
she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the 
birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: 
shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith 
thy God. 

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all 
ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that 
mourn over her: that ye may suck and be satisfied with 
the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, 
and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For 
thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her 
like a river, and the glory of the nations like an over- 
flowing stream, and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be 
borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the 
knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will 
I comfort you ; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 
And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and 
your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the 
hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, 
and he will have indignation against his enemies. 

For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and his 
chariots shall be like the whirlwind ; to render his anger 
with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by 
fire will the Lord plead, and by his sword, with all flesh : 
and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that 
sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto 
the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine's 






Old Testament Readings 233 

flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse; they shall 
come to an end together, saith the Lord. For I know 
their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that 
I will gather all nations and tongues ; and they shall 
come, and shall see my glory. And I will set a sign 
among them, and I will send such as escape of them 
unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul and Lud, that draw 
the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that 
have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; 
and they shall declare my glory among the nations. 

And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the 
nations for an offering unto the Lord, upon horses, and 
in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon 
swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the 
Lord, as the children of Israel bring their offering in 
a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And of them 
also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith the 
Lord. For as the new heavens and the new earth, 
which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the 
Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And 
it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, 
and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to 
worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go 
forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have 
transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, 
neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be 
an abhorring unto all flesh. 

Is. Ixv, 8-25; Ixvi. 



THE LIGHT EVERLASTING 

A PROPHECY OF ISAIAH CONCERNING JERUSALEM 

Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, and the glory of 
the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall 
cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples: but 



234 Old Testament Readings 

• 

the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be 
seen upon thee. And nations shall come to thy light, 
and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine 
eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves 
together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from 
far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. 

Then thou shalt see and be lightened, and thine heart 
shall tremble and be enlarged ; because of the abundance 
of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the 
nations shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels 
shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah ; 
they all shall come from Sheba: they shall bring gold 
and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of the 
Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to- 
gether unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister 
unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine 
altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to 
their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and 
the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, 
their silver and their gold with them, for the name of 
the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, be- 
cause he hath glorified thee. And strangers shall build 
up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: 
for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I 
had mercy on thee. Thy gates also shall be open con- 
tinually ; they shall not be shut day nor night ; that men 
may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their 
kings led with them. For that nation and kingdom that 
will not serve thee shall perish ; yea, those nations shall 
be utterly wasted. 

The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir 
tree, the pine, and the box tree together ; to beautify 
the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of 
my feet glorious. And the sons of them that afflicted 
thee shall come bending unto thee ; and all they that 
despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of 



Old Testament Readings 235 

• 

thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of the Lord, 
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 

Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that 
no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal 
excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou shalt also 
suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast 
of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy 
saviour, and thy redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 

For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring 
silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will 
also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors right- 
eousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, 
desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou 
shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 

The sun shall be no more thy light by day ; neither for 
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the 
Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy 
God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither 
shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be 
thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning 
shall be ended. 

Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall in- 
herit the land for ever; the branch of my planting, the 
work of my hands, that I may be glorified. The little one 
shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong 
nation: I the Lord will hasten it in its time. 

Is. lx. 



Section VIII 

FESTAL HYMNS AND SONGS 
AND DEVOTIONAL PASSAGES 



A SONG OF PRAISE TO THE LORD 

Praise ye the Lord. 

Praise ye the Lord from the Heavens: 
Praise him in the heights. 
Praise ye him, all his angels: 
Praise ye him, all his host. 
Praise ye him, sun and moon: 
Praise ye him, all ye stars of light. 
Praise him, ye heaven of heavens, 
And ye waters that be above the heavens. 
Let them praise the name of the Lord: 
For he commanded, and they were created. 
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: 
He hath made a decree which shall not pass away. 
Praise the Lord from the earth, 
Ye dragons, and all deeps: 
Fire and hail, snow and vapour; 
Stormy wind, fulfilling his word: 
Mountains and all hills; 
Fruitful trees and all cedars: 
Beasts and all cattle; 
Creeping things and flying fowl: 
Kings of the earth and all peoples ; 
Princes and all judges of the earth: 
Both young men and maidens ; 
Old men and children: 
Let them praise the name of the Lord; 
For his name alone is exalted: 
His glory is above the earth and heaven. 
And he hath lifted up the horn of his people, 
The praise of all his saints; 

2:9 



240 Old Testament Readings 

Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. 
Praise ye the Lord. 

Ps. cxliii. 



THE MAJESTY OF THE LORD 

The Lord reigneth; he is apparelled with majesty; 
The Lord is apparelled, he hath girded himself jvith 

strength : 
The world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 
Thy throne is established of old: 
Thou art from everlasting. 
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, 
The floods have lifted up their voice; 
The floods lift up their waves. 
Above the voices of many waters, 
The mighty breakers of the sea, 
The Lord on high is mighty. 
Thy testimonies are very sure: 
Holiness becometh thine house, 
O Lord, for evermore. 

Ps. xciii. 



THE MIGHT OF THE LORD 

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is 
pardoned; that she hath received of the Lord's hand 
double for all her sins. 

The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilder- 
ness the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a 
high way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, 
and every mountain and hill shall be made low : and the 
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places 



Old Testament Readings 241 

. • 

plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and 
all flesh shall see it together : for the mouth of the Lord 
hath spoken it. 

The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, What 
shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all goodliness there- 
of is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the 
flower fadeth; because the breath of the Lord bloweth 
upon it : surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, 
the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand 
for ever. 

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up 
into the high mountain ; O thou that tellest good tidings 
to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength ; lift it up, 
be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your 
God! Behold, the Lord God will come as a mighty 
one, and his arm shall rule over him : behold, his reward 
is with him, and his recompense before him. He shall 
feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs 
in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently 
lead those that give suck. 

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his 
hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and compre- 
hended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed 
the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 
Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord, or being his 
counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he coun- 
sel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path 
of judgement, and taught him knowledge, and shewed 
to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations 
are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small 
dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a 
very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, 
nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All 
the nations are as nothing before him ; they are counted 
to him less than nothing, and vanity. 

To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will 
ye compare unto him? The graven image, a workman 



242 Old Testament Readings 

• 

melted it, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, 
and casteth for it silver chains. He that is too impover- 
ished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not 
rot ; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to set up 
a graven image, that shall not be moved. 

Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not 
been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood 
from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth 
upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof 
are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as 
a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; 
that bringeth princes to nothing; he maketh the judges 
of earth as vanity. Yea, they have not been planted; 
yea, they have not been sown ; yea, their stock hath not 
taken root in the earth : moreover he bloweth upon them, 
and they wither, and the whirlwind taketh them away 
as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, that I should 
be equal to him? saith the Holy One. Lift up your 
eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that 
bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all 
by name ; by the greatness of his might, and for that 
he is strong in power, not one is lacking. 

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, 
My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement is 
passed away from my God? Hast thou not known? 
hast thou not heard? the everlasting God, the Lord, the 
Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither 
is weary; there is no searching of his understanding. 
He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no 
might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall 
faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly 
fall : but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; 
they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and 
not faint. 

Is. xl. 



Old Testament Readings 243 

• 

THE KING OF GLORY 

A PSALM OF DAVID 

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; 

The world, and they that dwell therein. 

For he hath founded it upon the seas, 

And established it upon the floods. 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 

And who shall stand in his holy place? 

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; 

Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 

And hath not sworn deceitfully. 

He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, 

And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 

This the generation of them that seek after him, 

That seek thy face, O God of Jacob. (Selah 

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; 
And be ye lift up, O ye everlasting doors: 
And the King of glory shall come in. 
Who is the King of glory? 
The Lord strong and mighty, 
The Lord mighty in battle. 
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; 
Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: 
And the King of glory shall come in. 
Who is the King of glory? 
The Lord of hosts, 

He is the King of glory. (Selah 

Ps. xxiv* 



FALSE GODS AND THE TRUE 



Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, 
But unto thy name give glory, 
For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. 
Wherefore should the nations say, 



244 Old Testament Readings 

• 

Where is now their God? 

But our God is in the heavens: 

He hath done whatsoever he pleased. 

Their idols are silver and gold, 

The work of men's hands. 

They have mouths, but they speak not; 

Eyes have they, but they see not ; 

They have ears, but they hear not ; 

Noses have they, but they smell not; 

They have hands, but they handle not; 

Feet they have, but they walk not; 

Neither speak they through their throat. 

They that make them shall be like unto them; 

Yea, every one that trusteth in them. 

O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: 

He is their help and their shield. 

O house of Aaron, trust ye in the Lord: 

He is their help and their shield. 

Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: 

He is their help and their shield. 

The Lord hath been mindful of us; he will bless us: 

He will bless the house of Israel; 

He will bless the house of Aaron. 

He will bless them that fear the Lord, 

Both small and great. 

The Lord increase you more and more, 

You and your children. 

Blessed are ye of the Lord, 

Which made heaven and earth. 

The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; 

But the earth hath he given to the children of men. 

The dead praise not the Lord, 

Neither any that go down into silence; 

But we will bless the Lord 

From this time forth and for evermore. 

Praise ye the Lord. 

Ps. cxv. 



Old Testament Readings 245 



A FESTAL HYMN 

O clap your hands, all ye peoples; 
Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 

For the Lord Most High is terrible; 

He is a great King over all the earth. 

He shall subdue the peoples under us, 

And the nations under our feet. 

He shall choose our inheritance for us, 

The excellency of Jacob whom he loved. 
God is gone up with a shout, 
The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 
Sing praises to God, sing praises: 
Sing praises unto our king, sing praises. 
For God is the king of all the earth : 
Sing ye praises with understanding. 

God reigneth over the nations: 

God sitteth upon his holy throne. 

The princes of the peoples are gathered together 

To be the people of the God of Abraham: 

For the shields of the earth belong unto God; 

He is greatly exalted. 

Ps. xlviu 



AN EVENING PRAYER 

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; 
Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress : 
Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 

D ye sons of men, how long will my glory be turned 
into dishonour? 
How long will ye love vanity, and seek after false- 
hood? 



246 Old Testament Readings 

• 

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly 
for himself : 
The Lord will hear when I call unto him. 

Stand in awe, and sin not: 

Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and 
be still. 
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, 

And put your trust in the Lord. 

Many there be that say, Who will shew us any good? 
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon 
us. 
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, 

More than they have when their corn and theii; 
wine are increased. 

In peace will I both lay me down and sleep: 
For thou, Lord, in solitude makest me dwell in safety. 

Ps. iv. 
* 

A MORNING PRAYER 

Give ear to my words, O Lord, 

Consider my meditation. 
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, My King, and my 
God; 
For unto thee do I pray. 
O Lord, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; 

In the morning will I order my prayer unto thee, 
and will keep watch. 

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: 

Evil shall not sojourn with thee. 
The arrogant shall not stand in thy sight: 

Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 



Old Testament Readings 247, 

Thou shalt destroy them, that speak lies: 

The Lord abhorreth the bloodthirsty and deceitful 
man. 
But as for me, in the multitude of thy lovingkindness 
will I come into thy house: 
In thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine 
enemies ; 
Make thy way plain before my face. 
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; 

Their inward part is a yawning gulf: 
Their throat is an open sepulchre; 
They flatter with their tongue. 
Hold them guilty, O God ! 

Let them fall by their own counsels: 
Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgres- 
sions ; 
For they have rebelled against thee. 
But let those that put their trust in thee rejoice, 

Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest 

them: 
Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 
For thou wilt bless the righteous ; 

O Lord, thou wilt compass him with favour as with 
a shield. 

Ps. v. 



A SONG OF THANKSGIVING 

I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: 

Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee. 

I will worship toward thy holy temple, 

And give thanks unto thy name for thy loving- 
kindness and for thy truth. 



248 Old Testament Headings 

For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 

In the day that I called thou answeredst me, 

Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul. 

All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Lord, 
For they have heard the words of thy mouth ; 
,Yea, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord. 

For great is the glory of the Lord : 

For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto 

the lowly ; 
But the haughty he knoweth from afar. 
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive 

me; 
[Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of 

mine enemies; 
And thy right hand shall save me. 

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: 
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; 
Forsake not the works of thine own hands. 

Ps. cxxxviii. 



THE PRAYER OF KING SOLOMON 

ON THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE 

'/Ind Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in 
the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread 
forth his hands toward heaven; and he said, 

O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee, 
in heaven above, or on earth beneath ; who keepest cove- 
nant and mercy with thy servants, that walk before thee 
with all their heart; who hast kept with thy servant 
David my father that which thou didst promise him: 
yea, thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it 



Old Testament Readings 249 

• 

with thine hand, as it is this day. Now therefore, O 
Lord, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David 
my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, 
There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on 
the throne of Israel ; if only thy children take heed 
in their way, to walk before me as thou hast walked 
before me. Now therefore, O God of Israel, let thy 
word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto 
thy servant David my father. 

But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, 
heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; 
how much less this house that I have builded ! Yet have 
thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his 
supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry 
and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before 
thee this day: that thine eyes may be open toward this 
house night and day, even toward the place whereof 
thou hast said, My name shall be there : to hearken unto 
the prayer which thy servant shall pray toward this 
place. 

And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, 
and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward 
this place : yea, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place ; 
and when thou hearest, forgive. If a man sin against 
his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him 
to swear, and he come and swear before thine altar in 
this house: then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge 
thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way 
upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him 
according to his righteousness. When thy people Israel 
be smitten down before the enemy, because they have 
sinned against thee ; if they turn again to thee, and con- 
fess thy name, and pray and make supplication unto thee 
Sn this house : then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the 
sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the 
land which thou gavest unto their fathers. 

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because 



250 Old Testament Readings 

• 

they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this 
place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, 
when thou dost afflict them: then hear thou in heaven, 
and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people 
Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein 
they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which 
thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. If 
there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there 
be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar ; if their enemy 
besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever 
plague, whatsoever sickness there be; what prayer 
and supplication soever be made by any man, or by 
all thy people Israel, which shall know every man 
the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his 
hands toward this house: then hear thou in heaven 
thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and ren- 
der unto every man according to all his ways, whose 
heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest 
the hearts of all the children of men;) that they may 
fear thee all the days that they live in the land which 
thou gavest unto our fathers. 

Moreover concerning the stranger, that is not of thy 
people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country 
for thy name's sake; (for they shall hear of thy great 
name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thy stretched out 
arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; 
hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do accord- 
ing to all the stranger calleth to thee for; that all the 
peoples of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as 
doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this 
house which I have built is called by thy name. 

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by 
whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray 
unto the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, 
and toward the house which I have built for thy name: 
then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplica- 
tion, and maintain their cause. If they sin against thee, 



Old Testament Readings 251 

» 

'(for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be 
angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that 
they carry them away captive unto the land of the enemy, 
far off or near; yet if they shall bethink themselves in 
the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, 
and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that 
carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have 
done perversely, we have dealt wickedly; if they return 
unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in 
the land of their enemies, which carried them captive, 
and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest 
unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and 
the house which I have built for thy name: then hear 
thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy 
dwelling place, and maintain their cause; and forgive 
thy people which have sinned against thee, and all their 
transgressions wherein they have transgressed against 
thee ; and give them compassion before those who carried 
them captive, that they may have compassion on them: 
for they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou 
broughtest out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace 
or iron ; that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication 
of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people 
Israel, to hearken unto them whensoever they cry unto 
thee. For thou didst separate them from among all the 
peoples of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou 
spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou 
broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God. 

/. Kings, viii, 22-53. 

THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE 

And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end 
of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, 
he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneel- 
ing on his knees with his hands spread forth toward 



252 Old Testament Readings 

• 

heaven. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation 
of Israel with a loud voice, saying, Blessed be the Lord, 
that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to 
all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of 
all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of 
Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as 
he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor for- 
sake us: that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk 
in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his 
statutes, and his judgements, which he commanded our 
fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have 
made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the 
Lord our God day and night, that he maintain the cause 
of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as 
every day shall require : that all the peoples of the eartH 
may know that the Lord, he is God; there is none else. 
Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our 
God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his command- 
ments, as at this day. 

And the king and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice 
before the Lord. And Solomon offered for the sacrifice 
of peace offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two 
and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty 
thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of 
'Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. The same day 
did the king hallow the middle of the court that was 
before the house of the Lord; for there he offered the 
burnt offering, and the meal offering, and the fat of the 
peace offerings : because the brasen altar that was before 
the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offering, and 
the fat of the peace offerings. , 

So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel 
with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of 
Hamath unto the brook of Egypt, before the Lord our 
God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. On 
the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed 
the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of 



Old Testament Readings 253 

• 

heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto 
David his servant, and to Israel his people. 

7. Kings, viii, 54-66. 



A SONG OF THE LORD'S HOUSE 

How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts ; 
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the :courts of the 

Lord; 
My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God. 

Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, 

And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay; 

her young. 
Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: 

They will be still praising thee. 
Blessed is the man whose strength is in these; 

In whose heart are the high ways to Zion. 
Passing through the valley of Weeping they make if 
a place of springs; 

Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings. 
They go from strength to strength, 

Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion. 

Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: 
Give ear, O God of Jacob. 

Behold, O God our shield, 

And look upon the face of thine anointed. 

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand : 

1 had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, 
Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 



254 Old Testament Readings 

For the Lord God is a sun and a shield : 

The Lord will give grace and glory : 
No good thing will be withhold from them that walk 
uprightly. 
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in 
thee. 

Ps., Ixxxw. 



BENEDICTION OF THE NIGHT WATCH 

The Congregation (retiring) 

Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, 
Which by night stand in the house of the Lord: 

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, 
And bless ye the Lord. 

The Night Watch 

The Lord bless thee out of Zion ; 
Even he that made heaven and eartK. 

Ps., cxxxtv. 

THE SABBATH 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou 
also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall 
keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you 
throughout your generations; that ye may know that I 
am the Lord which sanctify you. Ye shall keep the 
sabbath therefore ; for it is holy unto you : every one that 
profaneth it shall surely be put to death : for whosoever 
doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from 
among his people. Six days shall work be done; but 
on the seventh is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the 
Lord: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, 



Old Testament Readings 255 

lie shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children 
of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath 
throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for 
ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, 
and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 

Ex. xxxi, 12-17. 



FEAST DAYS OF THE LORD 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto 
the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts 
of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to the holy convo- 
cations, even these are my set feasts. Six days shall 
work be done: but on the seventh day is a sabbath of 
solemn rest, an holy convocation ; ye shall do no manner 
of work : it is a sabbath unto the Lord in all your dwell- 
ings. 

These are the set feasts of the Lord, even holy con- 
vocations, which ye shall proclaim in their appointed 
seasons. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of 
the month at even, is the Lord's passover. And on the 
fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened 
bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convoca- 
tion : ye shall do no servile work. But ye shall offer an 
offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the 
seventh day is an holy convocation ; ye shall do no servile 
work. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, saying, Speak unto 
the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be 
come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap 
the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring the sheaf of the 
firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and ye shall 
wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you : 
on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 



256 Old Testament Readings 



And in the day when ye wave the sheaf, ye shall offer 
a he-lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt 
offering unto the Lord. And the meal offering thereof 
shall be two-tenths parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled 
with oil, an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a 
sweet savour : and the drink offering thereof shall be of 
wine, the fourth part of an hin. And ye shall eat neither 
bread, nor parched corn, nor fresh ears, until this self- 
same day, until ye have brought the oblation of your 
God : it is a statute for ever throughout your generations 
in all your dwellings. 

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after 
the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of 
the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall there be com- 
plete: even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath 
shall ye number fifty days ; and ye shall offer a new meal 
offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your 
habitations two wave loaves of two tenth parts of an 
ephah: they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baked 
with leaven, for firstfruits unto the Lord. And ye shall 
present with the bread seven lambs without blemish of 
the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams : they 
shall be a burnt offering unto the Lord, with their meal 
offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering 
made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord. And ye 
shall offer one he-goat for a sin offering, and two he- 
lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 
And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the 
firstfruits for a wave offering before the Lord, with the 
two lambs : they shall be holy to the Lord for the priests. 
And ye shall make proclamation on the selfsame day; 
there shall be an holy convocation unto you : ye shall do 
no servile work : it is a statute for ever in all your dwell- 
ings throughout your generations. 

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt 
not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou 
gather the gleaning of thy harvest : thou shalt leave them 



Old Testament Readings 257 

for the poor, and for the stranger : I am the Lord your 
God. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saving. Speak unto 
the children of Israel, saying. In the seventh month, in 
the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto 
you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convo- 
i m. Ye shall do no servile work : and ye shall offer 
an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Howbeit on 
the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atone- 
ment: it shall be an holy convocation unto you, and ye 
shall afflict your souls ; and ye shall offer an offering 
made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no manner 
of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, 
to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. 
For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in 
that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. And 
whatsoever soul it be that doeth any manner of work in 
that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his 
people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it is a statute 
for ever throughout your generations in all your dwell- 
ings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of solemn rest, and 
ye shall afflict your souls : in the ninth day of the month 
at even, from even unto even, shall ye keep your sabbath. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses., saying. Speak unto 
the children of I ying-. On the fifteenth day of this 

seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days 
unto the Lord. On the first day shall be an holy 
convocation: ye shall do no servile work. Seven 
days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the 
Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation 
unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire 
unto the Lord: i: is a solemn assembly: ye shall do no 
servile work. 

These are the set feasts of the Lord, which ye shall 
proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering 
made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meal 



258 Old Testament Readings 

% 

offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own 
day: beside the sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your 
gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your 
freewill offerings, which ye give unto the Lord. 

Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, 
when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye 
shall keep the feast of the Lord seven days: on the first 
day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall 
be a solemn rest. And ye shall take you on the first 
day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and 
boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye 
shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. And 
ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the 
year : it is a statute for ever in your generations : ye shall 
keep it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths 
seven days ; all that are homeborn in Israel shall dwell in 
booths : that your generations may know that I made the 
[children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them 
out of the land of Egypt : I am the Lord your God. And 
Moses declared unto the children of Israel the set feasts 
of the Lord. 

Lev. xxiiu 



THE DAY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD 

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in 
my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land 
tremble : for the day of the Lord cometh : for it is nigh 
at hand; a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of 
clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the 
mountains; a great people and a strong, there hath not 
been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, 
even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth 
before them ; and behind them a flame burneth : the land 
is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them 
a desolate wilderness ; yea, and none hath escaped them. 



Old Testament Readings 259 

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; 
and as horsemen, so do they run. Like the noise of 
chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like 
the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, 
as a strong people set in battle array. At their presence 
the peoples are in anguish : all faces are waxed pale. 

They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like 
men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and 
they break not their ranks. Neither doth one thrust an- 
other ; they march every one in his path : and they burst 
through the weapons, and break not off their course. 
They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they 
climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows 
like a thief. The earth quaketh before them ; the heavens 
tremble: the sun and the moon are darkened, and the 
stars withdraw their shining: and the Lord uttereth his 
voice before his army ; for his camp is very great ; for he 
is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the 
Lord is great and very terrible ; and who can abide it ? 

Yet even now, saith the Lord, turn ye unto me with all 
your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with 
mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, 
and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious 
and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in 
mercy, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth 
whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing 
behind him, even a meal offering, and a drink offering, 
unto the Lord your God? 

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the 
earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun 
shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, 
before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And 
it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the 
name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion 
and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as the 
Lord hath said, and among the remnant those whom the 
Lord doth call. For, behold, in those days, and in that 



260 Old Testament Readings 

» 

time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah 
and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations, and will bring 
them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will 
plead with them there for my people and for my heritage 
Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and 
parted my land. 

Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and 
gather yourselves together: thither cause thy mighty 
ones to come down, O Lord. Let the nations bestir 
themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: 
for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. 
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe : come, tread 
ye ; for the winepress is f ull, the fats overflow ; for their 
wickedness is great. 

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for 
the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 
The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars with- 
draw their shining. And the Lord shall roar from Zion, 
and utter his voice from Jerusalem ; and the heavens and 
the earth shall shake : but the Lord will be a refuge unto 
his people, and a strong hold to the children of Israel. 

So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God, dwell- 
ing in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be 
holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any 
more. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the 
mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills 
shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall 
flow with waters ; and a fountain shall come forth of the 
house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 

Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a deso- 
late wilderness, for the violence done to the children of 
Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their 
land. But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem 
from generation to generation. And I will cleanse their 
blood that I have not cleansed : for the Lord dwelleth in 
Zion. 

Joel, it, 1-14, 30-32; iii. 



'This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: 
fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the 
whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work 
unto judgement, with every hidden thing, whether it 
be good or whether it be evil." 

Ecclesiastes, xii, 13, 14. 



THE OLD TESTAMENT 
PHRASE BOOK 



Doth not the ear try words, 

Even as the palate tasteth its meat? 

Job, xii, II. 



THE OLD TESTAMENT 
PHRASE BOOK 



SIMILES AND METAPHORS, PHRASES 
AND SHORT DESCRIPTIVE PASSAGES 



CLASSIFIED IN A SEQUENCE FOR 
CONVENIENT STUDY AND REFERENCE 

BY 

LOUISE EMERY TUCKER, M. A. 

Author of " Historical Plays of Colonial Days," etc. 



Hew Botft 

STURGIS & WALTON 

COMPANY 

1913 



Copyright, 1915, 
By STURGIS & WALTON COMPANY 

Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1913 



PREFACE 

In this age of more or less turbid and hybrid English 
it is refreshing to go back to the living waters of the 
English Bible, the fount of purest Anglo-Saxon. En- 
tirely aside from the great moral message which it 
carries to the world, the Bible would still be the most 
vital of all works in the English or any other language, 
because of the purity and simplicity of its diction, and 
its preponderance of short, simple words, most of them 
words of one or two syllables. No better corrective of 
the mistaken idea that strength lies in long, high-sound- 
ing words and phrases could be conceived than a study 
and analysis of any passage, selected at random, from 
either the Old or New Testament. 

To bring together in a convenient form the more 
striking of the shorter passages of the Old Testament 
and the more illuminating of its similes, metaphors and 
descriptive phrases, and to classify them for the most 
effective use in class-room work in English, is the pur- 
pose of this book. It is a companion volume to, and is 
designed to supplement, the book of OLD TESTA- 
MENT READINGS, which similarly brings together 
and classifies some of the longer selections, the stories, 
poems, character studies, etc. 

Methods for the effective use of this phrase book in 
composition-work will readily suggest themselves to the 
teacher. Memorization should play an important part 
in such use; first, that pupils may learn to appreciate 
the strength that lies in simple words and phrases, and 
may model their own vocabulary and writing accord- 
ingly ; and secondly, that they may be able to understand 
the Biblical allusions that continually crop up in general 



Preface 

m 

literature. Biblical similes, metaphors and descn x ve 
phrases are word-pictures in themselves, vignettes 
44 graven with pen of iron and point of diamond upon 
the table of the heart. ,, As such they have furnished 
inspiration to, and have been incorporated into the 
writings of practically all our greatest writers, from 
Shakespeare and Milton down. And because they are 
drawn from the common things in nature and in every- 
day life, things with which all children are familiar, they 
come within the comprehension of the youngest child. 
The Old Testament writers were simple men living in a 
simple age, with the simplicity of heart that characterizes 
all truly great men, — and all children. 

Some there may be who would contend that a study 
of the Bible in this capacity may, in some indefinable 
manner, detract from a proper reverence therefor. To 
these it is sufficient to say that feeling comes only with 
understanding. An appreciation of the beauties of the 
Bible, and a genuine love for its reading engendered 
thereby, is the most precious legacy that could be con- 
ferred upon a child, and carries with it, sub-consciously 
perhaps, a spirit of true reverence for the great truths 
contained therein, the ideals of right thinking and right 
living of which the Bible is the world-exemplar. 

Louise Emery Tucker. 






THE OLD TESTAMENT 
PHRASE BOOK 



I— DERIVED FROM OF DESCRIBING THE 
MANIFOLD LIFE OF NATURE 

THE TREES AND THE GRASS, THE HERBS 
OF THE FIELD AND THE FLOWERS, THE 
BIRDS AND THE FOWLS OF THE AIR, 
THE WILD BEASTS OF THE FIELD, AND 
THE CRAWLING THINGS OF THE EARTH 

OF TREES 

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: 
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

Ps. xcii, 12. 

His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. 

Song of Songs, v, 15. 

(Spread forth) as cedar trees beside the waters. 

Num. xxiv, 6. 

And cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees 
that are in the lowland, for abundance. 

77. Sam. x, 27. 

Whose height was like the height of the cedars, and 
he was strong as the oaks. Amos, ii, 9. 

The trees of the Lord are satisfied; 

The cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted ; 

Where the birds make their nests: 

As for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 

Ps. civ, 16, 17. 
3 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF TREES 

And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, 
as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind. 

Is. vii, 2. 

Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy. 

Ps. xcvi, 12. 

This thy stature is like to a palm tree. 

Songs of Songs, vii, 7. 

For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth. 

Is. i, 30. 

/ As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, 
So is my beloved among the sons. 

Song of Songs, ii, 3. 

And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of 

water, 
That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, 
Whose leaf also doth not wither; 
And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Ps. i, 3. 

I have seen the wicked in great power, 
And spreading himself like a green tree in its native 
soil. Ps. xxxvii, 35. 

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and 
streams upon the dry ground: I will pour my 
spirit upon thy seed, and mine blessing upon thine 
offspring: and they shall spring up among the 
grass, as willows by the watercourses. 

Is. xliv, 3, 4. 

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the 
house of God. Ps. Hi, 8. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF TREES 

His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be 
as the olive tree. Hos. xiv, 6. 

For as the days of a tree shall be the days of my 
people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work 
of their hands. Is. Ixv, 22. 

That they might be called trees of righteousness, the 
planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

Is. Ixi, 3. 

All thy fortresses shall be like fig trees with the first- 
ripe figs : if they be shaken they fall into the mouth 
of the eater. Nahum, Hi, 12. 

And if there be yet a tenth in it, it shall again be 
eaten up : as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose 
stock remaineth, when they are felled; so the holy 
seed is the stock thereof. Is. vi, 13. 

They that are planted in the house of the Lord 
Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 
They shall bring forth fruit in old age; 
They shall be full of sap and green. 

Ps. xcii, 13, 14. 

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, 
she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt 
under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah 
and Beth-el in the hill country of Ephraim: and 
the children of Israel came up to her for judge- 
ment. Judg. iv, 4, 5. 

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and 
whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree 
planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out his 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF TREES 

roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat 
cometh, but his leaf shall be green; and shall not 
be careful in the year of drought, neither shall 
cease from yielding fruit. 7er. xvii, 7, 8. 

Of the Boughs, Branches 
and Leaves of Trees 

Joseph is a fruitful bough, 

A fruitful bough, by a fountain ; 

His branches run over the wall. Gen. xlix, 22. 

And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock 
of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear 
fruit. Is. xi, 1. 

In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful 
and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be 
excellent and comely for them that are scaped of 
Israel. Is. iv, 2. 

Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? Job, xiii, 25. 

But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf. 

Prov. xi, 28. 

And we all do fade as a leaf. Is. Ixiv, 6. 

And all their host shall fade away, as the leaf fadeth 
from off the vine, and as a fading leaf from the 
fig tree. Is. xxxiv, 4. 

OF GRASS 

My heart is smitten like grass, and withered. 

Ps. cii, 4. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 7 



OF GRASS 

When the wicked spring as the grass. Ps. xcii, 7. 

And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the 
earth. Ps. Ixxii, 16. 

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, 
And wither as the green herb. Ps. xxxvii, 2. 

Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, 
Which withereth afore it groweth up: 
Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, 
Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 

Ps. cxxix, 6, 7. 

As for man, his days are as grass ; 
As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; 
And the place thereof shall know it no more. 

Ps. ciii, 15, 16. 

All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is 
as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the 
flower fadeth ; because the breath of the Lord 
bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The 
grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word 
of our God shall stand for ever. Is. xl, 6-8. 

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, 
they were dismayed and confounded; they were as 
the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the 
grass on the housetops, and as a field of corn before 
it be grown up. Is. xxxvii, 27. 

In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; 
In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 

Ps. xc, 5, 6. 



8 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF HERBS AND PLANTS 

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as banks of sweet 
herbs. Song of Songs, v, 12. 

When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their 
youth. Ps. cxliv, 12. 

For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and 
as a root out of a dry ground. Is. liii, 2. 

For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken 
in the water. /. Kings, x, 27. 

Can the rush grow without mire? 

Can the flag grow without water? 

Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, 

It withereth before any other herb. 

So are the paths of all that forget God: 

And the hope of the godless man shall perish. 

Job, viii, 11-13. 

Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh 
flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the 
Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, 
and shall not see when good cometh; but shall in- 
habit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt 
land and not inhabited. Jer. xvii, 5, 6. 



Of Thorns 

The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is 
worse than a thorn hedge. Micah, vii, 4. 

(And the peoples shall be) as thorns ;cut down, that 
are burned in the fire. Is. xxxiii, 12. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 9 



OF HERBS AND PLANTS 

Of Thorns 

For though they be like tangled thorns, and be 
drenched as it were in their drink, they shall be 
devoured utterly as dry stubble. Nahum, i, 10. 

OF FLOWERS 

I am a rose of Sharon, 

A lily of the valleys. Song of Songs, ii, i. 

As a lily among thorns, 

So is my love among the daughters. 

Song of Songs, ii, 2. 

His lips are as lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. 

Song of Songs, v, 13. 

He shall blossom as the lily. Hos. xiv, 5. 

My beloved is unto me as a cluster of henna-flowers 
In the vineyards of En-gedi. Song of Songs, i, 14. 

Man that is born of a woman 

Is of few days, and full of trouble. 

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: 

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 

Job, xiv, 1, 2. 

OF THE BIRDS AND THE 
WILD FOWLS OF THE AIR 

Their glory shall fly away like a bird. Hos. ix y 11. 

They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, 
and as a dove out of the land of Assyria. 

Hos. xi, 11. 



10 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE BIRDS AND THE 
WILD FOWLS OF THE AIR 

As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts protect 
Jerusalem. Is. xxxi, 5. 

For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered 
nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the 
fords of Arnon. Is. xvi, 2. 

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the 

fowlers : 
The snare is broken, and we are escaped. 

Ps. cxxiv, 7. 

They have chased me sore like a bird, that are mine 
enemies without cause. Lam. Hi, 52. 

As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of 
deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen 
rich. Jer. v, 27. 

And maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven. 

Job, xxxv, 10. 

Is mine heritage unto me as a speckled bird of 
prey? Jer. xii, 9. 

And mourn like doves. Is. lix, II. 

I did mourn as a dove : mine eyes fail from looking 
upward. Is. xxxviii, 14. 

Her handmaids mourn as with the voice of doves, 
tabering upon their breasts. Nahum, it, 7. 

But they that escape of them that shall escape, shall 
be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all 
of them mourning, every one in his iniquity. 

Ezek. vii, 16. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 11 



OF THE BIRDS AND THE 
WILD FOWLS OF THE AIR 

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves 
to their windows? Is. Ix, 8. 

And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without under- 
standing. Hos. vii, II. 

Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil. 

Song of Songs, iv, I. 

Behold, thou art fair, my beloved; behold, thou art 

fair; 
Thine eyes are as doves. 

Song of Songs, i, 15. 

His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks ; 
Washed with milk, and fitly set. 

Song of Songs, v, 12. 

O my dove, that art in the defts of the rock, 
In the covert of the steep place, 
Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; 
For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is lovely. 

Song of Songs, it, 14. 

O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the 

wild beast; 
Forget not the life of thy poor for ever. 

Ps. Ixxiv, 19. 

O ye inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell 
in the rock ; and be thou like the dove that maketh 
her nest in the hole's mouth. Jer. xlviii, 28. 

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove ! 
Then would I fly away, and be at rest. 



12 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE BIRDS AND THE 
WILD FOWLS OF THE AIR 

Lo, then would I wander far off, 

I would lodge in the wilderness. 

I would haste me to a shelter 

From the stormy wind and tempest. Ps. h, 6-8. 

Will ye lie among the sheepfolds, 

As the wings of a dove covered with silver, 

And her pinions with yellow gold? Ps. Ixviii, 13. 

They shall mount up with wings as eagles. 

Is. xl, 31. 

As an eagle he Cometh against the house of the Lord. 

Hos. viii, 1. 

As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. Job, ix, 26. 

Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and 
spread out his wings against Bozrah. Jer. xlix, 22. 

Our pursuers are swifter than the eagles of heaven : 

They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait 

for us in the wilderness. Lam. iv, 19. 

Yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an 
eagle that hasteth to devour. Hab. i, 8. 

The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, 
from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth. 

Deut. xxviii, 49. 

As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, 

That fluttereth over her young, 

He spread abroad his wings, he took them, 

He bare them on his pinions. Deut. xxxii, II. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 13 



OF THE BIRDS AND THE 
WILD FOWLS OF THE AIR 

As for thy terribleness, the pride of thine heart hath 
deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of 
the rock, that holdest the height of the hill : though 
thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, 
I will bring thee down from thence, saith the 
Lord. Jer. xlix, 16. 

And he was driven from men, and did eat grass as 
oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, 
till his hair was grown like eagle's feathers, and 
his nails like bird's claws. Dan. iv, 33. 

I watch, and am become 

Like a sparrow that is alone upon the housetop. 

Ps. cii, 7. 

Like a swallow or a grane, so did I chatter. 

Is. xxxviii, 14. 

Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, 

And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may 

lay her young, 
Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, 
My King, and my God. Ps. xxxviii, 3. 

Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed 
times; and the turtle and the swallow and the 
crane observe the time of their coming; but my 
people know not the ordinance of the Lord. 

Jer. viii, 7. 

As the partridge that gathereth young which she hath 
not brought forth, so is he that getteth riches, and 
not by right; in the midst of his days they shall 
leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool. 

Jer. xvii, II, 



14 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF THE BIRDS AND THE 
WILD FOWLS OF THE AIR 

Who provideth for the raven his food, 

When his young ones cry unto God, 

And wander for lack of meat? Job, xxxviii, 41. 

By reason of the voice of my groaning 

I am like a pelican of the wilderness; 

I am become as an owl of the waste places. 

Ps. cii, 6. 

The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the 
ostriches in the wilderness. Lam. iv, 3. 

Of Nests 

Strong is thy dwelling place, 

And thy nest is set in the rock. Num. xxiv, 21. 

And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the 
peoples ; and as one gathereth eggs that are for- 
saken, have I gathered all the earth : and there was 
none that moved the wing, or that opened the 
mouth, or chirped. Is. x, 14. 



OF THE WILD BEASTS 
OF THE FIELD 

As a leopard will I watch by the way. Hos. xiii, 8. 

Their horses are swifter than leopards, and are more 
fierce than the evening wolves. Hab. i, 8. 

A wolf of the evening shall spoil them. Jer. v, 6. 

Benjamin is a wolf that ravineth: 

In the morning he shall devour the prey, 

And at even he shall divide the spoil. Gen. xlix, 27. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 15 



OF THE WILD BEASTS 
OF THE FIELD 

Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; 
her judges are evening wolves ; they leave nothing 
till the morrow. Zeph. Hi, 3. 

Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, 
a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard 
shall watch over their cities, every one that goeth 
out thence shall be torn in pieces. Jer. v, 6. 

I am a brother to jackals, am a companion to os- 
triches. Job, xxx, 29. 

We roar all like bears. Is. lix, 11. 

I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her 
whelps, and will rend the caul of their hearts. 

Hos. xiii, 8. 

As a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him ; 
or went into the house and leaned his hand upon 
the wall, and a serpent bit him. Amos, v, 19. 

He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in 
secret places. Lam. Hi, 10. 



He lurketh in the covert as a lion in his den : 

He lieth in wait to catch the poor. Ps. x, 9. 

Like a roaring lion, ravening the prey. Ezek. xxii, 25. 

They gape upon me with their mouths, 

As a ravening and a roaring lion. Ps. xxii y 13. 

My soul is among lions. Ps. hit, 4. 



16 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE WILD BEASTS 
OF THE FIELD 

Lest he tear my soul like a lion, 

Rending it to pieces, while there is none to deliver. 

Ps. vii, 2. 

I quieted myself until morning, as a lion, so he 
breaketh all my bones. Is. xxxviii, 13. 

Mine heritage is become unto me as a lion in the 
forest: she hath uttered her voice against me; 
therefore I have hated her. Jer. xii, 18. 

For a nation is come upon my land, strong, and with- 
out number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and 
he hath the jaw teeth of a great lion. Joel, i, 6. 

A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer 
of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth 
from his place; to make thy land desolate, that 
thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitants. 

Jer. iv, 7. 

And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, 
in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the 
beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the 
flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, treadeth 
down and teareth to pieces, and there is none to 
deliver. Micah, v, 8. 

Like as when the lion growleth and the young lion 
over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called 
forth against him, he will not be dismayed at their 
voice, nor absent himself for the noise of them. 

Is. xxxi, 4. 

They shall walk after the Lord, who shall roar like 
a lion ; for he shall roar, and the children shall 
come trembling from the west. Hos. xi, 10. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 17 



OF THE WILD BEASTS 
OF THE FIELD 

Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar 
like young lions : yea, they shall roar, and lay hold 
of the prey, and carry it away safe, and there 
shall be none to deliver. Is. v, 29. 

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce 

lion, 
And the teeth of the young lions are broken. 
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, 
And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad. 

Job, iv, 10, 11. 

Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding-place 
of the young lions, where the lion and the lioness 
walked, the lion's whelp, and none made them 
afraid? The lion did tear in pieces enough for 
his whelps, and strangled for his lioness, and filled 
his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin. 

Nahum, ii, 11, 12. 

He dwelleth as a lioness, 

And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head. 

Deut. xxxvii, 20. 

Behold, the people riseth up as a lioness, 

And as a lion doth he lift himself up: 

He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, 

And drink the blood of the slain. Num. xxiii, 24. 

They shall roar together like young lions ; they shall 
growl as lions' whelps. Jer. Ii, 38. 

Dan is a lion's whelp, 

That leapeth forth from Bashan. Deut. xxxiii, 22. 



18 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE WILD BEASTS 
OF THE FIELD 

Judah is a lion's whelp; 
From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: 
He stooped down, he couched as a lion, 
And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? 

Gen. xlix, 9. 

Naphtali is a hind let loose. Gen. xlix, 21. 

He maketh his feet like hinds' feet; 
And setteth me upon my high places. 

//. Sam. xxii, 34. 

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, 
So panteth my soul after thee, O God. 

Ps. xlix, 1. 

Her princes are become like harts that findeth no 
pasture, 

And they are gone without strength before the pur- 
suer. Lam. i, 6. 

The voice of my beloved ! behold, he cometh, 
Leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart, 

Song of Songs, it, 8. 

Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, 
Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young 

hart 
Upon the mountain of Bether. 

Song of Songs, ii, 17. 

Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the top of all the 
streets, as an antelope in a net. Is. li, 20. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 19 



OF THE WILD BEASTS 
OF THE FIELD 

For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone 
by himself. Hos. znii, 8. 

Behold, as wild asses in the desert 

They go forth to their work, seeking diligently for 
meat: 

The wilderness yieldeth them food for their chil- 
dren. Job, xxiv, 5. 



OF THE SERPENT AND THE 
CRAWLING THINGS OF THE EARTH 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of 
the field which the Lord God had made. 

Gen. Hi, 1. 

The sound thereof shall go like the serpent. 

Jer. xlvi, 22. 

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent. 

Ps. Iviii, 4. 

They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; 
Adders' poison is under their lips. Ps. cxl, 3. 

He shall suck the poison of asps: 

The viper's tongue shall slay him. Job, xx, 16. 

Their wine is the poison of dragons, 

And the cruel venom of asps. Deut. xxxii, 33. 

For out of the serpent's root shall come forth a 
basilisk, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying ser- 
pent. Is. xiv, 29. 



20 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE SERPENT AND THE 
CRAWLING THINGS OF THE EARTH 

They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; 
Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, 
Charming never so wisely. Ps. Iviii, 4, 5. 

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: 
The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample 
under feet. Ps. xci, 13. 

Dan shall be a serpent in the way, 

An adder in the path, 

That biteth the horse's heels, 

So that his rider falls backward. Gen. xlix, 17. 

My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to 
your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, 
but I will chastise you with scorpions. 

/. Kings, xii, 14. 

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because 
thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cat- 
tle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy 
belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the 
days of thy life: and I will put enmity between 
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her 
seed : it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise 
his heel. Gen. Hi, 14-16. 

They shall lick the dust like the serpent; like crawl- 
ing things of the earth they shall come trembling 
out of their close places: they shall come with fear 
unto the Lord our God, and shall be afraid be- 
cause of thee. Micah, vii, 17. 

Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, 
And the stars are not pure in his sight: 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 21 



OF THE SERPENT AND THE 
CRAWLING THINGS OF THE EARTH 

How much less man, that is a worm ! 
And the son of man, which is a worm. 

Job, xxv, 5, 6. 

Surely I will fill thee with men, as with the canker- 
worm ; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. 

Jer. li, 14. 

Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth 
away. Ps. Iviii, 8. 



OF INSECT LIFE 

They compassed me about like bees. Ps. cxviii, 12. 

And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, 
came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, 
and beat you down in mount Seir, even unto Hor- 
mah. Deut. i, 44. 

And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar 
gathereth: as locusts leap shall they leap upon it. 

Is. xxxiii, 4. 

I am tossed up and down as the locust. Ps. cix, 23. 

Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy marshals 
as the swarms of grasshoppers, which camp in 
the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun 
ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known 
where they are. Nahum, Hi, 17. 

He buildeth his house as the moth. Job, xxvii, 18. 



22 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF INSECT LIFE 

Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. 

Ps. xxxix, ii. 

Whose confidence shall break in sunder, 

And whose trust is a spider's web. Job, viii, 14. 



II— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 

PASTORAL LIFE OF A PEOPLE WHO 

LIVED WITH NATURE 

THE LIFE OF THE TENT, AND OF THE 
FIELDS, AND OF THE FLOCKS 

OF SHEPHERDS 
AND THE FLOCK 

Why satest thou among the sheepfolds, 

To hear the pipings for the flocks? Judg. v, 16. 

While he yet spake with them, Rachel came with 
her father's sheep ; for she kept them. 

Gen. xxix, 9. 

And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley 
of Achor a place for herds to lie down in. 

Is. I xv y 10. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 

He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

He restoreth my soul : 

He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his 

name's sake. 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow 

of death, 
I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me : 
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 

Ps. xxiii, 1-4. 
23 



24 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF SHEPHERDS 
AND THE FLOCK 

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather 
the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, 
and shall gently lead those that give suck. 

Is. xl, II. 

But he led forth his own people like sheep, 
And guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 

Ps. Ixxviii, 52. 

Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes that are newly 

shorn, 
Which are come up from the washing; 
Whereof every one hath twins, 
And none is bereaved among them. 

Song of Songs, iv, 8. 

Thy hair is as a flock of goats, 
That lie along the side of Gilead. 

Song of Songs, iv, 1. 

He was oppressed, yet he humbled himself and opened 
not his mouth ; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, 
and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; 
yea, he opened not his mouth. Is. liii, 7. 

I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, 
like rams with he-goats. ler. li, 40. 

Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat ; 
And hast scattered us among the nations. 

Ps. xliv, 11. 

All we like sheep have gone astray. Is. liii, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 25 



OF SHEPHERDS 
AND THE FLOCK 

And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep 
of his hand. Ps. xcv, 7. 

Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of 
thy pasture? Ps. Ixxiv, I. 

We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Ps. xllVy 22. 

As the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gath- 
ereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, 
and shall flee every man to his own land. 

Is. xiii, 14. 

Therefore they go their way like sheep, they are 
afflicted, because there is no shepherd. Zech. x, 2. 

My people hath been lost sheep : their shepherds have 
caused them to go astray, they have turned them 
away on the mountains : they have gone from 
mountain to hill, they have forgotten their rest- 
ing place. Jer. I, 6. 

Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven 
him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured 
him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Baby- 
lon hath broken his bones. Jer. I, 17. 

I will surely gather the remnant of Israel ; I will put 
them together as the sheep of Bozrah: as a flock 
in the midst of their pasture, they shall make 
great noise by reason of the multitude of men. 

Micah, ii, 12. 



26 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF SHEPHERDS 
AND THE FLOCK 

And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he 
shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul 
shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in 
Gilead. Jer. I, 19. 

Yet again shall there be in this place, which is waste, 
without men and without beast, and in all cities 
thereof, an habitation of shepherds causing their 
flocks to lie down. In the cities of the hill country, 
in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the 
South, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the 
places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, 
shall the flocks again pass under the hands of him 
that telleth them, saith the Lord. 

Jer. xxxiii, 12, 13. 

OF THE TENT 

Mine age is removed, and is carried away from me 
as a shepherd's tent. Is. xxxviii, 12. 

And Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 

Gen. xxv, 27. 

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction : 

The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 

Hab. Hi, 7. 

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt 
in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogebah. 

Judg. viii, 11. 

Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant 
vineyard, nor have any : but all your days ye shall 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 27 

OF THE TENT 

dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the 
land wherein ye sojourn. Jer. xxxv, 7. 

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob', 

Thy tabernacles, O Israel! 

As valleys are they spread forth, 

As gardens by the riverside, 

As lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted, 

As cedar trees beside the waters. Num. xxiv, 5, 6. 

My tent is spoiled, and all my cords are broken : my 
children are gone forth of me, and they are not: 
there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, 
and to set up my curtains. Jer. x, 20. 

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch 
forth the curtains of thine habitations; spare not: 
lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. For 
thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on 
the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, 
and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 

Is. liv, 2, 3. 

And fire shall consume the tents of bribery. 

Job, xv, 34. 

That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and 
spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. 

Is. xl, 22. 



OF ANIMALS OF THE 
FARM AND OF THE HERD 

For every beast of the field is mine, 

And the cattle upon a thousand hills. Ps. I, 10. 



28 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF ANIMALS OF THE 
FARM AND OF THE HERD 

As the cattle that go down in the valley, the spirit 
of the Lord caused them to rest. Is. Ixiii, 14. 

And ye shall go forth and gambol as calves of the 
stall. Malachi, iv, 8. 

Also her hired men in the midst of her are like 
calves of the stall ; for they also are turned back, 
they are fled away together, they did not stand. 

Jer. xlvi, 21. 

Because ye are glad, because ye rejoice, O ye that 

plunder mine heritage; because ye are wanton as 

an heifer that treadeth out the corn, and neigh 

as strong horses. Jer. I, II. 

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's 
crib ; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not 
consider. Is. i, 3. 

Now shalt this multitude lick up all that is round 
about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the 
field. Num. xxii, 4. 

For the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock in the 
house of Judah, and shall make them as his goodly 
horse. Zech. x, 3. 

That led him through the depths, as an horse in the 
wilderness. Is. Ixiii, 13. 

Every one turneth to his course, as a horse that 
rusheth headlong in the battle. 

Jer. viii, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 29 



OF ANIMALS OF THE 
FARM AND OF THE HERD 

The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan: at 
the sound of the neighing of his strong ones the 
whole land trembleth. Jer. viii, 16. 

The appearance of them is as the appearance of 
horses; and as horsemen do they run. 

Joel, ii, 4. 

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have 
wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with 
horses? Jer. xii, 5. 

I have compared thee, O my love, 

To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots. 

Thy cheeks are comely with plaits of hair, 

Thy neck with strings of jewels. 

We will make thee plaits of gold 

With studs of silver. Song of Songs, i, 9-1 1. 

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have 

no understanding: 
Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them 

in, 
Else they will not £ome near unto thee. 

Ps. xxxii, 9. 

I will keep my mouth with a bridle, 

While the wicked is before me. Ps. xxxix, 1. 

Because of thy raging against me, and for that thine 
arrogance is come up into mine ears, therefore will 
I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy 
lips, and I will turn thee back by the way which 
thou earnest. Is. xxxvii, 29. 



30 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF THE FIELDS 
PLOWING AND SOWING 

As the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed. 

Gen. xxvii, 27. 

Yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the 
field. Hos. xii, II, 

Doth the plowman plow continually to sow? doth he 
continually open and break the clods of his ground? 
When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth 
he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cum- 
min, and put in the wheat in rows and the barley 
in the appointed place and the spelt in the border 
thereof? For his God doth instruct him aright, 
and doth teach him. Is. xxviii, 24-26. 

As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, 
Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth. 

Ps. cxli, 7. 

Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall 
become heaps, and the mountain of the house as 
the high places of the forest. Jer. xxvi, 18. 

Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods. Sow 
to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to 
mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is 
time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain right- 
eousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, 
ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit 
of lies: for thou didst trust in thy way, in the 
multitude of thy mighty men. Hos. x, 12-14. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 31 



OF THE HARVEST 

Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that han- 
dleth the sickle in the time of harvest. Jer. I, 16. 

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, 
Like as a shock of corn cometh in its season. 

Job, v, 26. 

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are 

gone; 
Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the 

way as all other, 
And are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 

Jo b, xxiv, 24. 

And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth 
the standing corn, and his arm reapeth the ears; 
yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears in the 
valley of Rephaim. Yet there shall be left therein 
gleanings, as the shaking of an olive tree, two 
or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, 
four or five in the outmost branches of a fruit- 
ful tree. Is. xvii, 5, 6. 

Then the Lord God shewed me: and, behold, he 
formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up 
of the latter growth ; and, lo, it was the latter growth 
after the king's mowings. Amos, vii, I. 

Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, 
Which withereth afore it groweth up: 
Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, 
Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 

Ps. exxix, 6, 7. 



32 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE HARVEST 

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and 
found mandrakes in the field, and brought them 
unto his mother Leah. Gen. xxx, 14. 

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, 

So is a faithful messenger to them that send him ; 

For he refresheth the soul of his masters. 

Prov. xxv, 13. 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

Though he goeth on his way weeping, bearing forth 

the seed; 
He shall come again with joy, bringing his sheaves 

with him. Ps. exxvi, 5, 6. 

They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns ; they 
have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: 
and ye shall be ashamed of your fruits, because 
of the fierce anger of the Lord. Jer. xii, 13. 

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou 
shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither 
shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 
And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither 
shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of the vineyard; 
thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the 
stranger. Lev. xix, 9, 10. 



OF THRESHING AND 
THE THRESHING-FLOOR 

For he hath gathered them as the sheaves to the 
threshing-floor. Micah, iv, 12. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 33 



OF THRESHING AND 
THE THRESHING-FLOOR 

The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor at 
the time when it is trodden ; yet a little while, and 
the time of harvest shall come for her. 

Jer. li, 33. 

And Ephraim is an heifer that is taught, that loveth 
to tread out the corn. Hos. x, II. 

Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will 
make thine horns iron, and I will make thy hoofs 
brass : and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples : 
and thou shalt devote their gain unto the Lord, 
and their substance unto the Lord of the whole 
earth. Micah, iv, 13. 

For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp thresh- 
ing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about 
upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out 
with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Bread 
corn is ground ; for he will not ever be threshing it : 
and though the wheel of his cart and his horses 
scatter it, he doth not grind it. This also cometh 
from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in 
counsel, and excellent in wisdom. 

Is. xxviii, 27-29. 

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing in- 
strument having teeth : thou shalt thresh the moun- 
tains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills 
as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall 
carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter 
them : and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, thou 
shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. 

Is. xli, 15, 16. 



34 The Old Testament Phrase "Book 

9 ■ 

OF THRESHING AND 
THE THRESHING-FLOOR 

The Chaff of the 
Threshing- Floor 

And became like the chaff of the summer threshing- 
floors; and the wind carried them away, that no 
place was found for them. Dan. ii, 35. 

As the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of 
the threshing-floor. Hos. xiii, 3. 

The wicked are not so; 

But are like chaff which the wind driveth away. 

Ps. i, 4. 

They are as stubble before the wind, 
And as chaff that the storm £arrieth away. 

Job, xxi, 18. 

Before the day pass as the chaff. Zeph. ii, 2. 



OF THE VINEYARD 
AND THE VINE 

My wellbeloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful 
hill : and he made a trench about, and gathered out 
the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest 
vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also 
hewed out a winepress therein ; and he looked that 
it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth 
wild grapes. Is. v, 2. 

Israel is a luxuriant vine, which putteth forth his 
fruit. Hos. x, 1. 

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; 
they shall revive as the eorn, and blossom as the 
vine. Hos. xiv, 7. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 35 



OF THE VINEYARD 
AND THE VINE 

Yea, I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right 
seed : how thou art turned into the degenerate plant 
of a strange vine unto me? Jer. ii, 21. 

For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, 

And of the fields of Gomorrah : 

Their grapes are grapes of gall, 

Their clusters are bitter: 

Their wine is the poison of dragons, 

And the cruel venom of asps. Deut. xxxii, 32, 33. 

Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the 
field, and as the plantings of a vineyard. 

Micah, i, 6. 

And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a 
vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as 
a besieged city. Is. i, 8. 

For afore the harvest, when the blossom is over, 
and the flower becometh a ripening grape, he shall 
cut off the sprigs with pruninghooks, and the 
spreading branches shall he take away and cut 
down. They shall be left together unto the rav- 
enous birds of the mountains, and to the beasts 
of the earth: and the ravenous birds shall summer 
upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall 
winter upon them. Is. xviii, 5, 6. 



OF THE HARVEST 
OF THE VINEYARD 

Tread ye ; for the winepress is full, the fats overflow. 

Ioel x iii x 13. 



36 The Old Testament Phrase 'Book 



OF THE HARVEST 
OF THE VINEYARD 

He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, 
against all the inhabitants of the earth. 

Jer. xxv, 30. 

The Lord has trodden as in a winepress the virgin 
daughter of Jerusalem. Lam. i, 15. 

They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel 
as a vine; turn again as a grapegatherer into the 
baskets. Jer. vi, 9. 

And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt 
thou gather the fallen fruit of the vineyard; thou 
shalt leave them for the poor and for the stranger. 

Lev. xxx, 10. 

Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap: thou shalt 
tread the olives, but shalt not anoint thee with oil ; 
and the vintage, but shalt not drink the wine. 

Micah, vi, 15. 

And gladness and joy is taken away, from the fruit- 
ful field and from the land of Moab; and I have 
caused wine to cease from the winepresses: none 
shall tread with shouting ; the shouting shall be no 
shouting. Jer. xlviii, 33. 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plow- 
man shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of 
grapes him that soweth the seed ; and the moun- 
tain shall drop down sweet wine, and all the hills 
shall melt. And they shall plant vineyards, and 
drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gar- 
dens, and eat the fruit of them. Amos, ix, 13, 14. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 37 



OF WINE 

AND THE GRAPE 

And of the blood of the grape thou drankest wine. 

Deut. xxxii, 14. 

The scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 

Hos. xiv, 7. 

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man. 

Ps. civ, 15. 

And thy mouth like the best wine, 

That goeth down smoothly for my beloved, 

Gliding through the lips of those that are asleep. 

Song of Songs, vii, 9. 

How fair is thy love, my sister, my bride ! 
How much better is thy love than wine. 

Song of Songs, iv, 10. 

As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, 
Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do 
for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy 
them all. Is. Ixv, 8. 

Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 

Ps. Ixxviii, 65. 

And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, 
and their heart shall rejoice as through wine. 

Zech. x, 7. 

And they shall be drunken with their own blood, 
as with sweet wine. Is. xlix, 26. 

He hath washed his garments in wine, 
And his vesture in the blood of grapes. 

Gen. xlix, II. 



38 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF WINE 

AND THE GRAPE 

Their wine is the poison of dragons, 

And the cruel venom of asps. Deut. xxxii, 33. 

Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, 
that made all the earth drunken: the nations have 
drunk of her wine ; therefore the nations are mad. 

Jer. li, 7. 



OF THE FRUITS OF THE 
ORCHARD AND THE GARDEN 

And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, 

And for the precious things of the growth of the 

moon. Deut, xxxiii, 14. 

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw 
your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her 
first season. Hos. ix, 10. 

Woe is me ! for I am as when they have gathered the 
summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vin- 
tage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth 
the firstripe fig. Micah, vii, 1. 

For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth among 
the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as 
the grape gleanings when the vintage is done. 

Is. xxiv, 12. 

Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, as the shak- 
ing of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top 
of the uppermost bough, four or five in the out- 
most branches of a fruitful tree. Is. xvii, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 39 



OF THE FRUITS OF THE 
ORCHARD AND THE GARDEN 

He compassed him about, he cared for him, 
He kept him as the apple of his eye. 

Deut. xxxii, 10. 

And the smell of thy breath like apples. 

Song of Songs, vii, 7. 

A word fitly spoken 

Is like apples of gold in baskets of silver. 

Prov. xxv, 11. 

Thy temples are like a piece of pomegranate, 
Behind thy veil. Song of Songs, iv, 3. 



OF ABUNDANCE AND THE 
FULNESS OF THE HARVEST 

When our garners are full, affording all manner of 
store ; 

And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thou- 
sands in our fields. Ps. cxliv, 13. 

There shall be abundance of corn in the earth upon 

the top of the mountains; 
The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: 
And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the 

field. Ps. Ixxii, 16. 

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; 
Yea, I have a goodly heritage. Ps. xvi, 6. 

When my steps were washed with butter, 
And the rocks poured me out rivers of oil. 

Job, xxix, 6. 



40 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF ABUNDANCE AND THE 
FULNESS OF THE HARVEST 

But the meek shall inherit the land ; 
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of 
peace. Ps. xxxvii, 1 1. 

And God give thee of the dew of heaven, 

And of the fatness of the earth, 

And plenty of corn and wine. Gen. xxvii, 27. 

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness 
of thy house. Ps. xxxvi, 8. 

Their eyes stand out with fatness: 
They have more than heart could wish. 

Ps. Ixxiii, 7. 

He made him ride on the high places of the earth, 

And he did eat the increase of the field ; 

And he made him suck honey out of the rock, 

And oil out of the flinty rock; 

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, 

With fat of lambs, 

And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, 

With the fat of kidneys of wheat; 

And of the blood of the grape thou drankest wine. 

Deut. xxxii, 13, 14. 



OF THE LAND 

A good land and a large, a land flowing with milk 
and honey. Exod. Hi, 8. 

A land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vine- 
yards. Is. xxxvi, 17. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 41 



OF THE LAND 

Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond 
the rivers of Ethiopia. Is. xviii, I. 

A place of broad rivers and streams. Is. xxxiii, 21. 

A land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of 
the rain of heaven. Deut. xi, n. 

Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is 
there any end of their treasure. Is. ii, 7. 

That is it which compasseth the whole land of 
Havilah, where there is gold ; and the gold of that 
land is good : there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 

Gen. ii, 11, 12. 

And Israel dwelleth in safety, 
The fountain of Jacob alone, 
In a land of corn and wine; 
Yea, his heavens drop down dew. 

Deut. xxxiii, 28. 

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the 
land of the children of the east. Gen. xxix, 1. 

And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojourn- 
ings, in the land of Canaan. Gen. xxxvii, 1. 

I have been a sojourner in a strange land. 

Exod. ii, 22. 

They shall behold a far stretching land. 

Is. xxxiii, 17. 

Toward the south, and toward the east, and toward 
the glorious land. Dan. viii, 9. 



42 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE LAND 

For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, 
a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths, 
springing forth in valleys and hills ; a land of wheat 
and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegran- 
ates ; a land of oil olives and honey ; a land wherein 
thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt 
not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are 
iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 
And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless 
the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath 
given thee. Dent, viii, 7-10. 

The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and 
behind them a desolate wilderness. Joel, ii, 3. 



OF THE DESERT 

AND THE WILDERNESS 

As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 

Is. xxxii, 2. 

My soul thirsteth after thee, as a weary land. 

Ps. cxliii, 6. 

Through the wilderness, through a land of deserts 
and of pits, through a land of drought and of the 
shadow of death, through a land that none passeth 
through, and where no man dwelt. 7er. ii, 6. 

He found him in a desert land, 
And in the waste howling wilderness. 

Deut. xxxii, 10. 

It cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land. 

Is. xxi, 1. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 43 



OF THE DESERT 

AND THE WILDERNESS 

Through the great and terrible wilderness, wherein 
were fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty 
ground where was no water. Dent, viii, 15. 

Through the land of trouble and anguish, from 
whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper 
and fierce flying serpent, they carry their riches 
upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treas- 
ures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that 
shall not profit them. Is. XXX, 6. 

He causeth them to wander in a wilderness where 
there is no way. Job, xii, 24. 

Behold, she shall be the hindmost of nations, a wil- 
derness, a dry land, and a desert. Jer. I, 12. 

Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the 
wolves shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall 
dwell therein : and it shall no more be inhabited for 
ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation 
to generation. Jer. /, 39. 

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and 
briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joy- 
ous city : for the palaces shall be forsaken ; the 
populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the 
watchtower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of 
wild asses, a pasture for flocks. Is. xxxii, 13-15. 

I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and 
pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom 
of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts. 

Is. xiv, 23. 



44 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE DESERT 

AND THE WILDERNESS 

And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river 
shall be wasted and become dry. And the rivers 
shall stink ; the streams of Egypt shall be minished 
and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither 
away. The meadows by the Nile, by the brink 
of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile, shall 
become dry, be driven away, and be no more. The 
fishers also shall lament, and all they that cast 
angle in the Nile shall mourn, and they that spread 
nets upon the waters shall languish. 

Is. xix, 5-8. 



OF THE MOUNTAINS 
AND THE HILLS 

And the eternal mountains were scattered, 

The everlasting hills did bow. Hab. Hi, 6. 

And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, 
And for the precious things of the everlasting hills. 

Deut. xxxiii, 15. 

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, 
And the hills, in righteousness. Ps. Ixxii, 3. 

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt ; and 
the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the 
world, and all that dwell therein. Nahum, i, 5. 

The mountains saw thee, and were afraid. 

Hab. Hi, 10. 

The mountains flowed down at the presence of the 

Lord. 
Even yon Sinai at the presence of the Lord, the God 

of Israel. Judg. v, 5. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 45 



OF THE MOUNTAINS 
AND THE HILLS 

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the moun- 
tains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills 
shall flow with milk. Joel, Hi, 18. 

What ailest thee, O thou sea, that thou fleest? 
Thou Jordan, that thou turnest back? 
Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; 
Ye little hills, like young sheep? 

Ps. cxiv, 5, 6. 

Let the hills sing for joy together. Ps. xcviii, 8. 

The high mountains are for the wild goats; 

The rocks are a refuge for the conies. Ps. civ, 18. 

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan ; 
An high mountain is the mountain of Bashan. 

Ps. Ixviii, 15. 

They that trust in the Lord 

Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but 
abideth for ever. Ps. cxxv, 1. 

Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God. 

Ps. xxxvi, 6. 

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, 
So the Lord is round about his people, 
From this time forth, and for evermore. 

Ps. cxxv, 2. 



46 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF 
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS 

And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, 
And for the precious things of the everlasting hills. 

Hab. Hi, 6. 

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and 
hidden riches of secret places. Is. xlv, 3. 

Gold and Silver 

And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, 

And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the 

brooks ; 
And the Almighty shall be thy treasure, 
And precious silver unto thee. 

Job, xxii, 24, 25. 

The judgements of the Lord are true, and righteous 

altogether. 
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much 

fine gold. Ps. xix, 9, 10. 

The precious sons of Zion, comparable to find gold. 

Lam. iv, 2. 

His head is as the most fine gold. 

Song of Songs, v, II. 

I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a 
man than the pure gold of Ophir. Is. xiii, 12. 

The law of thy mouth is better unto me 

Than thousands of gold and silver. Ps. cxix, J2. 

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver. 

Prov. x y 20. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 47 

OF THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF 
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS 

Gold and Silver 

There is silver beaten into plates which is brought 
from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work 
of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith. 

Jer. x, 9. 

Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is 
there any end of their treasures. Is. ii, 7. 

That is it which compasseth the whole land of Havi- 
lah, where there is gold ; and the gold of that land 
is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 

Gen. ii, 11, 12. 

Brass and Iron 

And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, 
and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 

Deut. xxviii, 23. 

Because I know that thou art obstinate, and thy neck 
is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass. Is. xlviii, 4. 

And they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 

Ezek. i, 7. 

Refining 

The words of the Lord are pure words; 

As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, 

Purified seven times. Ps. xii, 6. 

Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver ; I have 
chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 

Is. xlviii, 10. 



48 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF 
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS 

Refining 

Thy silver is become dross. Is. i, 22. 

The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed of 
the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the 
wicked are not plucked away. Refuse silver shall 
men call them, because the Lord hath rejected 
them. Jer. vi, 29, 30. 

As they gather silver and brass and iron and lead and 
tin into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire 
upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine 
anger and in my fury, and I will slay you there, 
and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow 
upon you with the fire of my wrath, and ye shall 
be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is 
melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be 
melted in the midst thereof ; and ye shall know that 
I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you. 

Ezek. xxii, 20-22. 

Precious Stones 

The appearance of the wheels and their work was like 
unto the colour of a beryl. Ezek. i, 16. 

And above the firmament that was over their heads 
was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of 
a sapphire stone. Ezek. i, 26. 

And over the head of the living creature there was 
the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the 
terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads 
above, Ezek. i, 22. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 49 



OF THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF 
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS 

Precious Stones 

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not com- 
forted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colours, 
and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will 
make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy gates of car- 
buncles, and all thy border of pleasant stones. 

Is. liv, II, 12. 

OF THE RIVERS, 
STREAMS AND BROOKS 

The river Kishon swept them away, 

The ancient river, the river Kishon. Judg. v, 21. 

The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace 
is dissolved. Nahum, ii, 6. 

Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. Hab. Hi, 9. 

As rivers of water in a dry place. Is. xxxii, 2. 

And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy 
pleasure. Ps. xxxvi, 8. 

Then had thy peace been as a river. Is. xlviii, 18. 

O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down 
like a river day and night. Lam. ii, 19. 

Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of 
Tarshish; there is no girdle about thee any more. 

Is. xxiii, 10. 

Who is this that riseth up like the Nile, whose waters 
toss themselves like the rivers? Egypt riseth up. 



50 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE RIVERS, 
STREAMS AND BROOKS 

like the Nile, and his waters toss themselves like 
the rivers : and he saith, I will rise up, I will cover 
the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabit- 
ants thereof. f Jer. xlvi, 7, 8. 

Of Streams 

He shall not look upon the rivers, 

The flowing streams of honey and butter. 

Job, xx, 17. 

For he shall come as a rushing stream, which the 
breath of the Lord driveth. Is. lix, 19. 

And his breath is as an overflowing stream, that 
reacheth even unto the neck. Is. xxx, 28. 

But let judgement roll down as waters, and righteous- 
ness as a mighty stream. Amos, v, 24. 

Turn again our captivity, O Lord, 

As the streams in the South. Ps. cxxvi, 4. 

Of Brooks 

The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook. 

Prov. xviii, 4. 

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, 

As the channel of brooks that pass away; 

Which are black by reason of the ice, 

And wherein the snow hideth itself : 

What time they wax warm, they vanish: 

iWhen it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 51 



OF THE RIVERS, 
STREAMS AND BROOKS 

Of Brooks 

The caravans that travel by the way of them turn 

aside ; 
They go up into the waste, and perish, 
The caravans of Tema looked. 
The companies of Sheba waited for them. 
They were ashamed because they had hoped; 
They came thither, and were confounded. 

Job, vi, 15-20. 

OF FOUNTAINS, WELLS, 

POOLS AND WATERED GARDENS 

Thou art a fountain of gardens, 

A well of living waters, 

And flowing streams from Lebanon. 

Song of Songs, iv, 15. 

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a 
fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night 
for the slain of the daughter of my people ! 

Jer. xx, 1. 

They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, 
and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that 
can hold no water. Jer. ii, 13. 

Like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 

Is. Iviii, 11. 

Far from the noise of archers, in the places of draw- 
ing water. Judg. v s 11. 

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the 
wells of salvation. Is. xii, 3. 



52 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF FOUNTAINS, WELLS, 

POOLS AND WATERED GARDENS 

Thine eyes as the pools in Heshbon, by the gate of 
Bath-rabbim. Song of Songs, vii, 4. 

But Nineveh hath been from old like a pool of water. 

Nahum, ii, 8. 

A garden shut up is my sister, my bride; 
A spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 

Song of Songs, iv, 12. 

And thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like 
a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 

Is. Iviii, II. 

And their soul shall be as a watered garden. 

Jer. xxxi, 12. 

As gardens by the river side. Num. xxiv, 6. 

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the 
garden causeth the things that are sown in it to 
spring forth; so the Lord will cause righteousness 
and praise to spring forth before all nations. 

Is. Ixi, 11. 



Ill— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
ELEMENTAL FORCES AND MANIFESTA- 
TIONS OF NATURE 

THE WATER, THE SEA AND THE DEEPS; 
THE FIRE AND THE FLAME AND THE 
SMOKE ; THE WIND AND THE WHIRLWIND ; 
THE THUNDER AND THE LIGHTNING AND 
THE STORM ; THE CLOUDS AND THE RAIN 
AND THE DEW; THE FROST AND THE 
SNOW AND THE ICE; THE HEAVENS AND 
ALL THE STARRY HOST OF HEAVEN 

OF THE WATERS 
AND THE FLOODS 

The God of glory thundereth, 

Even the Lord upon many waters. Ps. xxix, 3, 

Stretch forth thine hand from above; 

Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, 

Out of the hand of strangers. Ps. cxliv, J. 

For thou shalt forget thy misery ; 
Thou shalt forget it as waters that are passed away. 

'Job, xi, 16. 

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters. 

Prov. xviii, 4. 

Terrors overtake him like waters. Job, xxvii, 20. 

He is swift upon the face of the waters. 

Job, xxiv, 18. 
53 



54 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE WATERS 
AND THE FLOODS 

I am come into deep waters, where the floods over- 
flow me. Ps. Ixix, 2. 

And with a blast of thy nostrils the waters were 

piled up, 
The floods stood upright as an heap. Exod. xv, 8. 

Let the floods clap their hands. Ps. xcviii, 8. 

The floods have lifted up, O Lord, 
The floods have lifted up their voice; 
The floods have lifted up their waves. 

Micah, i, 4. 

Of the Sea 

Thou didst tread the sea with thine horses, 

The leap of mighty waters. Hab. Hi, 15. 

Above the voice of mighty waters, 

The mighty breakers of the sea, 

The Lord on high is mighty. Ps. xciii, 4. 

They that go down to the sea in ships. Ps. cvii, 23. 

Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; 
And he shall be for an haven of ships. 

Gen. xlix, 13. 

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the 
Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Is. xi, 9. 

For I am the Lord thy God, which stirreth up the 
sea, that the waves thereof roar. Is. It, 15. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 55 



OF THE WATERS 
AND THE FLOODS 

Of the Sea 

Ah, the uproar of many peoples, which roar like the 
roaring of the seas. Is. xvii, 12. 

And they shall roar against them in that day like the 
roaring of the sea. Is. v, 30. 

But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can- 
not rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. 

Is. Ivii, 20. 

For they shall suck the abundance of the seas, 
And the hidden treasures of the sand. 

Dent, xxxiii, 19. 

The sea saw it and fled; 

Jordan was driven back. Ps. cxiv, 3. 

Then the channels of the sea appeared, 

The foundations of the world were laid bare, 

By the rebuke of the Lord, 

At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 

77. Sain, xxii, 16. 

Of the Deep 

The deeps cover them : 

They went down into the depths like a stone. 

Exod. xv, 5. 

Thy judgements are a great deep. Ps. xxxvi, 6. 

Thou coveredst it with the deep as a vesture. 

Ps. civ, 6. 



56 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE WATERS 
AND THE FLOODS 

Of the Deep 

When he set a circle upon the face of the deep. 

Prov. viii, 27. 

The waters are hidden as with stone, 
And the face of the deep is frozen. 

Job, xxxviii, 30. 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water- 
spouts : 
All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 

Ps. xlii, 7. 

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: 
He maketh the sea like ointment. 
He maketh a path to shine after him ; 
One would think the deep to be hoary. 

Job, xli, 31, 32. 

The deep uttered his voice, 

And lifted up his hands on high. Hob. Hi, 10. 



Of Water 

Let them melt away as water that runneth apace. 

Ps. Iviii, 7. 

I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 

Hos. v, 10. 

I am poured out like water. Ps. xxii, 14. 

Pour out thine heart like water before the face of 
the Lord. Lam. it, 19. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 57 



OF THE WATERS 
AND THE FLOODS 

Of Water 

A man that drinketh iniquity like water. Job, xv, 16. 

Their blood have they shed like water round about 
Jerusalem. Ps. Ixxix, 3. 

They came round about me like water all the day 
long. Ps. Ixxxviii, 17. 

And the hearts of the people melted, and became as 
water. Josh, vii, 6. 

All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak 
as water. Ezek, vii, 17. 

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, 
So is good news from a far country. 

Prov. xxv, 25. 

Drought and heat consume the snow waters: 
So doth Sheol those which have sinned. 

Job, xxiv, 19. 

As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon 
the water. Hos. x, 7. 



OF FIRE 

A fire not blown by men shall devour him. 
It shall consume that which is left in his tent. 

Job, xx, 26. 

For the Lord thy God is a devouring fire, a jealous 
God. Deut. iv, 24. 



58 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF FIRE 

His ministers a burning flame. Is. xiii, 8. 

Their faces shall be faces of flame. Is. xiii, 8. 

His breath kindleth coals, 

And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 

Job, xli, 21. 

His throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof 
burning fire. Dan. vii, g. 

Know therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he 
which goeth before thee as a destroying fire. 

Deut. ix, 3. 

The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, 

And the fire shall devour them. Ps. xxi, 9. 

Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, 
burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: 
his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is 
a devouring fire. Is. xxx, 27. 

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, 
And burneth unto the lowest pit. 
And devoureth the earth with her increase, 
And setteth on fire the foundations of the mountains. 

Deut. xxxii, 22. 

As the fire that burneth the forest, 

And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire; 

So pursue them with thy tempest, 

And terrify them with thy storm. 

Ps. Ixxxiii, 14, 15. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 59 



OF FIRE 

I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this 
people wool, and it shall devour them. Jer. v, 14. 

And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a 
spark ; and they shall both burn together, and none 
shall quench them. Is. i, 31. 

Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn 
them; they shall not deliver themselves from the 
power of the flames : it shall not be a coal to warm 
at, nor a fire to sit before. Is. xlvii, 14. 

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house 
of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for 
stubble, and they shall burn among them, and de- 
vour them, and there shall not be any remaining 
to the house of Esau ; for the Lord hath spoken it. 

Ob ad. i, 18. 

Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, 
and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame, so 
their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom 
shall go up as dust: because they have rejected the 
law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of 
the Holy One of Israel. Is. v, 24. 

For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the 
briers and thorns: yea, it kindleth in the thickets 
of the forest, and they roll upward in thick clouds 
of smoke. Is. ix, 18. 

And under his glory there shall be kindled a burning 
like the burning of fire. And the light of Israel 
shall be for a fire, and the Holy One for a flame: 
and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his 



60 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF FIRE 

briers in one day. And he shall consume the glory 
of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul 
and body. Is. x, 16-18. 

Of Smoke 

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. 

Ps. Ixviii, 2. 

For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke. 

Is. li, 6. 

For my days consume away like smoke. Ps. cii, 3. 

These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all 
the day. Is. Ixv, 5. 

(Therefore they shall be) as the smoke out of the 
chimney. Hos. xiii, 3. 

Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness 
like pillars of smoke ? Song of Songs, Hi, 6. 

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke. 

Ps. cxix, 83. 

Of Sparks 

But man is born unto trouble, 

As the sparks fly upward. Job, v, 7. 

Of Ashes 

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall 
be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day 
that I do make, saith the Lord of hosts. 

Malachi, iv, 3. 



The Old Testament Thrase Book 61 



OF SOUNDS AND NOISES 
THE VOICE OF NATURE 
AND THE VOICE OF GOD 

Like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the 
stubble. Joel, it, 5. 

And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings 
like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the 
Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an 
host. Ezek. i, 24. 

And I heard the noise of the wings of the living 
creatures as they touched one another, and the 
noise of the wheels beside them, even the noise 
of a great rushing. Ezek. Hi, 13. 

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth 
trembleth, and the cry is heard among the nations. 

Jer. I, 46. 

The earth trembleth at the noise of their fall ; there 
is a cry, the noise whereof is heard in the Red Sea. 

Jer. xlix, 21. 

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the moun- 
tains do they leap. Joel, it, 5. 

The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as 
of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the 
kingdoms of the nations gathered together. 

Is. xiii, 4. 

And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and 
strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in 
pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord 
was not in the wind: and after the wind was an 



62 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF SOUNDS AND NOISES 
THE VOICE OF NATURE 
AND THE VOICE OF GOD 

earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earth- 
quake : and after the earthquake a fire ; but the 
Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still 
small voice. /. Kings, xix, n. 

Day unto day uttereth speech, 

And night unto night sheweth knowledge. 

There is no speech nor language; 

Their voice cannot be heard. Ps. xix, 2, 3. 

And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was 
heard even to the outer court, as the voice of 
God Almighty when he speaketh. Ezek. x, 5. 

And the voice of his words like the voice of a multi- 
tude. Dan. x, 6. 

And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of 
the fire: ye heard the voice of words, but ye saw 
no form ; only ye heard a voice. Deut. iv, 12. 



OF THE WIND 

An east wind shall come, the breath of the Lord com- 
ing up from the wilderness. Hos. xiii, 15. 

Who maketh winds his messengers. Ps. civ, 4. 

He hath removed her with his rough blast in the day 
of the east wind. Is. xxvii, 8. 

Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the 
east wind. Hos. xii, 1. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 63 



OF THE WIND 

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the 
enemy. Jer. xviii, 17. 

Their faces are set eagerly as the east wind. 

Hab. i, 9. 

He bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries. 

Ps. ex xxv } 7. 

And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the 
four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them 
toward all those winds ; and there shall be no na- 
tion whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. 

Jer. xlix, 36. 

A hot wind from the bare heights in the wilderness 
toward the daughters of my people, not to fan, nor 
to cleanse; a full wind from these shall come for 
me: now will I also utter judgements against them. 

Jer. iv, 11, 12. 

Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against 
them that dwell in Lab-kamai, a destroying wind. 

Jer. li, 1. 

And with his scorching wind shall he shake his hand 
over the River, and shall smite it into seven 
streams, and cause men to march over dryshod. 

Is. xi, 15. 

Thou liftest me up to the wind, 
Thou causest me to ride upon it; 
And thou dissolvest me in the storm. 

Job, xxx, 22. 



64 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE WIND 

Then shall he sweep by as a wind. Hab. i, II. 

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly : 

Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 

77. Sam. xxii, II. 

Terrors are turned upon me, 

They chase mine honour as the wind. 

Job, xxx, 15. 

But the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry 
them away. Is. hii, 13. 

They shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the 
chaff of the mountains before the wind. 

Is. xvii, 13. 

And he remembered that they were but flesh ; 

A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 

Ps. Ixxviii, 39. 

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun ; 
and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 

Eccles. i, 14. 

And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like 
a mighty wind ? Job, viii, 2. 



OF THE WHIRLWIND 

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirl- 
wind. Hos. viii, 7. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 65 



OF THE WHIRLWIND 

The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the 
storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 

Nahum, i, 3. 

Behold, the tempest of the Lord, even his fury, is 
gone forth, yea, a whirling tempest: it shall burst 
upon the land of the wicked. Jer. xxiii, 19. 

For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and his 
chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his 
anger w T ith fury, and his rebuke with flames of 
fire. Is. Ixvi, 15. 

He bloweth upon them, and they wither, and the 
whirlwind taketh them away as stubble. Is. xl, 24. 

As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh 
from the wilderness, from a terrible land. 

Is. xxi, 1. 

(They shall be chased) like the whirling dust before 
the storm. Is. xvii, 13. 



OF THUNDER 
AND LIGHTNING 

The Lord thundered from heaven, 
And the Most High uttered his voice. 

77. Sam. xxii, 14. 

Hearken ye unto the noise of his voice, 
And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 
He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, 
And his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 
After it a voice roareth; 



60 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THUNDER 
AND LIGHTNING 

He thundereth with the voice of his majesty: 
And he stayeth them not when his voice is heard. 

Job, xxxvii, 2-4. 

His lightnings lightened the world: 

The earth saw, and trembled. Ps. xcvii, 4. 

And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; 
Lightning, and discomfited them. 77. Sam. xxii, 15. 

He covereth his hands with the lightning; 
And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. 

Job, xx xvi y 32. 

His face is as the appearance of lightning. 

Dan. x, 6. 

And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow 
shall go forth as the lightning. Zech. ix, 14. 

He maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth 
the wind out of his treasuries. Jer. x, 13. 



OF THE STORM 

The noise thereof telleth concerning him, 
The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up. 

Job, xxxvi, 33. 

Then the beasts go into coverts, 

And remain in their dens. Job, xxxvii, 8. 

Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm: 
And cold out of the north. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 67 



OF THE STORM 

By the breath of God ice is given : 

And the breadth of the waters is straightened. 

Job, xxxvii, 9, 10. 

When your fear cometh as a storm, 

And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind. 

Prov. i, 27. 

She shall be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, 
and with earthquakes, and great noise, with whirl- 
wind, and tempest, and the flame of a devouring 
fire. Is. xxix, 6. 

And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be 
heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his 
arm, with the indignation of his anger, and the 
flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, and tem- 
pest, and hailstorm. Is. xxx, 30. 

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, 
and a covert from the tempest. Is. xxxii, 2. 

For thou hast been a strong hold to the poor, a strong 
hold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the 
storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of 
the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 

Is. xxv, 4. 



OF CLOUDS 

Who maketh the clouds his chariots. Ps. civ, 3. 

Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud. 

Is. xix, I. 



68 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF CLOUDS 

And he made darkness pavilions round about him, 
Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 

//. Sam. xxii, n. 

And the clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum, i, 3. 

And thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as 
a cloud to cover the land. Ezek. xxxviii, 16. 

Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots 
shall be as the whirlwind: his horses are swifter 
than eagles. Jer. iv, 13. 

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves 
to their windows? Is. Ix, 8. 

And my welfare is passed away as a cloud. 

Job, xxx 9 15. 

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, 
So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no 
more. Job, vii, 9. 

For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the 
dew that goeth away. Hos. vi, 4. 

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgres- 
sions, and as a cloud, thy sins. Is. xliv, 22. 

OF RAIN 

Who can number the clouds by wisdom? 
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 
When the dust runneth into a mass. 
And the clouds cleave fast together? 

Job, xxxviii, 27 > 38. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 69 



OF RAIN 

The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, 
Yea, the clouds dropped water. Judg. v, 4. 

For the windows on high are opened, and the founda- 
tions of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly 
broken, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is 
moved exceedingly. Is. xxiv, 19. 

He shall r come down like rain upon the mown grass : 
As showers that water the earth. Ps. Ixxii, 6. 

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, 
My speech shall distil as the dew; 
As the small rain upon the tender grass, 
And as the showers upon the herb. 

Deut. xxxii, 2. 

He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun 

riseth, 
A morning without clouds; 

When the tender grass springeth out of the earth, 
Through clear shining after rain. II. Sam. xxiii, 4. 

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in 
the day of rain, so was the appearance of the 
brightness round about. Ezek. i, 28. 

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of 
many peoples as dew from the Lord, as showers 
upon the grass; that tarrieth not for man, nor 
waiteth for the sons of men. Micah, v, 7. 

Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it 

a place of springs ; 
Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings. 

Ps. Ixxxiv, 6. 



70 The Old Testament Phrase Book 

• 

OF RAIN 

In the light of the king's countenance is life; 
And his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. 

Prov. xvi, 15. 

And he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter 
rain that watereth the earth. Hos. vi, 3. 

Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, 
even of the Lord that maketh lightnings; and he 
shall give them rain, to every one grass in the field. 

Zech, x, 1. 

For as the rain cometh down and the snow from 
heaven, and returneth not hither, but watereth the 
earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and 
giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 
so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth: 
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accom- 
plish that which I please, and it shall prosper in 
the thing whereto I sent it. Is. Iv, 10, II. 



OF THE DEW 

Like the dew of Hermon, 

That cometh down upon the mountain of Zion. 

Ps. cxxxiii, 3. 

Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. 

Is. xviii, 4. 

For thy dew is as the dew of herbs. Is. xxvi, 19. 

Thou hast the dew of youth. Ps. ex, 3. 

I will be as the dew unto Israel. Hos. xiv, 5. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 71 



OF THE DEW 

For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the 
dew that goeth early away. Hos. vi, 4. 

My speech shall distil as the dew. Deut. xxxii, 2. 

For the precious things of heaven, for the dew. 

Deut. xxxiii, 13. 

OF FROST 

He scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. 

Ps. cxlvii, 16. 

OF SNOW 

He giveth snow like wool. Ps. cxlvii, 16. 

When the Almighty scattered kings therein, 

It was as when it snoweth in Zalmon. Ps. Ixviii, 14. 



OF ICE 

He casteth forth his ice like morsels : 

Who can stand before his cold? 

He sendeth forth his word, and melteth them. 

Ps. Ixviii, 14. 

OF THE HEAVENS 

The heavens declare the glory of God; 
And the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

Ps. xix, 1. 

Is not God in the height of heaven? 
And behold the height of the stars, how high they 
are! Job, xxii, 12. 



72 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE HEAVENS 

O sing praises unto the Lord; 

To him who rideth upon the heavens of heavens, 

which are of old; 
Lo, he uttereth his voice, and that a mighty voice. 

Ps. Ixviii, 3 2 > 33- 

Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain. 

Ps. civ, 2. 

Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and 
the earth my footstool. Is. Ixvi, i. 

There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, 

Who rideth upon the heavens for thy help, 

And in his excellency on the skies. Deut. xxxiii, 26. 

Then the earth shook and trembled, 

The foundations of heaven moved 

And were shaken, because he was wroth. 

77. Sam. xxii, 8. 

He bowed down the heavens also, and came down: 
And thick darkness was under his feet. 

II. Sam. xxii, 10. 

Canst thou with him spread out the sky, 
Which is strong as a molten mirror? 

Job, xxxvii, 18. 

He stretcheth out the north over empty space, 

And hangeth the earth upon nothing. Job. xxvi, 7. 

And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the 
covering that is cast over all the peoples, and the 
veil that is spread over all nations. 

Is. xxv, 7. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 73 



OF THE SUN 
AND THE MOON 
AND THE STARS 

If I beheld the sun when it shined, 

Or the moon walking in brightness. Job, xxxi, 26. 

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation ; 

At the light of thine arrows as they went, 

And the shining of thy glittering spear. Hab. Hi, II. 

Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun 
ashamed. Is. xxiv, 23. 



Clear as the sun. Song of Songs, vi, 10. 

So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: 
But let them that love him be as the sun when he 
goeth forth in his might. Judg. v, 31. 

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 
And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course. 

Ps. xix, 4, 5. 

Fair as the moon. Song of Songs, vi, 10. 

It shall be established for ever as the moon, 
And as the faithful witness in the sky. 

Ps. Ixxxix, 37. 

In his days shall the righteous flourish; 
And abundance of peace, till the moon be no more. 

Ps. Ixxii, 7. 

But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of 
heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, 



74 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE SUN 
AND THE MOON 
AND THE STARS 

we have wanted all things, and have been con- 
sumed by the sword and famine. 

Jer. xliv, 18. 

They fought from heaven, 

The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 

Judg. v, 20. 

How art thou fallen from heaven, O day star, son 
of the morning! Is. xiv, 12. 

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness 
of the firmament : and they that turn many to right- 
eousness as the stars for ever and ever. 

Dan. xii, 3. 

Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore 
and ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath 
made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude. 

Dent. x t 22. 

Thus saith the Lord which giveth the sun for a light 
by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the 
stars for a light by night, which stirreth up the sea, 
that the waves thereof roar. Jer. xxxi, 35. 

And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and 
when thou seest the sun and the moon and the 
stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn 
away and worship them, and serve them, which 
the Lord thy God hath divided unto all the peoples 
under the whole heaven. Dent, iv, 19. 



IV— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
PROCESSION OF NIGHT AND DAY 

OF THE TIME OF THE DAY; OF THE 
MORNING AND THE MORNING LIGHT; OF 
NOON-DAY, HEAT, SHADE AND SHADOW ; 
OF NIGHT AND DARKNESS, SLEEP, AND 
DREAMS AND VISIONS OF THE NIGHT 

OF THE TIME 
OF THE DAY 

And they came into the midst of the camp in the 
morning watch. /. Sam. xi, II. 

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. 

Gen. xxxii, 26. 

And it came to pass about the spring of the day, that 
Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, 
that I may send thee away. /. Sam. ix, 26. 

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came 
unto Zoar. Gen. xix, 23. 

To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have 
deliverance. /. Sam. xi, 9. 

And the Lord appeared unto him by the oaks of 
Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of 
the day. Gen. xviii, 1. 

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking 
in the garden in the cool of the day. Gen. Hi, 8. 
75 



76 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE TIME 
OF THE DAY 

For the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening 
are stretched out. Jer. vi, 4. 

And his hands were steady until the going down of 
the sun. Exod. xvii, 12. 

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the 
eventide. Gen. xxiv, 63. 

And he made the camels to kneel down without the 
city by the well of water at the time of evening, 
the time that women go out to draw water. 

Gen. xxiv, 11. 

In the twilight, in the evening of the day, 
In the blackness of night and the darkness. 

Prov. vii, 9. 

And it came to pass about the time of the shutting 
of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went 
out. Josh, ii, 5. 

Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray 
you tarry all night: behold, the day draweth to an 
end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; 
and to-morrow get you early on your way, that 
thou mayest go home. Judg. xix, 9. 



OF MORNING AND 
THE MORNING LIGHT 

His eyes are like the eyelids of morning. Job, xli, 18. 

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days 

began, 
And caused the dayspring to know its place ? 

Job, xxxviii, 12. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 77 



OF MORNING AND 
THE MORNING LIGHT 

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. 

Is. Iviii, 8. 

Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning. 

Job, xi, 17. 

He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun 

riseth, 
A morning without clouds; 

When the tender grass springeth out of the earth, 
Through dear shining after rain. 

77. Sam. xxiii, 4. 

Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, 

Fair as the moon, 

Clear as the sun, 

Terrible as an army with banners? 

Song of Songs, vi, 10. 

If I take the wings of the morning, 

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

Even there shall thy hand lead me, 

And thy right hand shall hold me. Ps. cxxxix, 9, 10. 

His going forth is sure as the morning. Hos. vi, 3. 



OF NOON-DAY, HEAT, 
SHADE AND SHADOWS 

And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday. 

Job, xi, 17. 

Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 

Ps, xci, 6. 



r$ The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF NOON-DAY, HEAT, 
SHADE AND SHADOWS 

Then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine ob- 
scurity be as the noonday. Is. Iviii, io. 



Of Shade 

The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 

The sun shall not smite thee by day, 

Nor the moon by night. Ps. cxxii, 5, 6. 

Of Heat 

I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling place ; 
like (when there is) clear heat in sunshine. 

Is. xviii, 4. 

As the heat in a dry place shalt thou bring down the 
noise of strangers ; as the heat by the shadow of a 
cloud, the song of the terrible ones shall be brought 
low. Is. xxv y 5. 

Of Shadows 

A shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible 
ones is as a storm against the wall. Is. xxv, 4. 

As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 

Is. xxxii, 2. 

Make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the 
noonday. Is. xvi, 3. 

Man is like to vanity : 

His days are as a shadow that passeth away. 

Ps. cxliv, 4, 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 79 



OF NOON-DAY, HEAT, 
SHADE AND SHADOWS 

Of Shadows 

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 

Job, xiv, 2. 

For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, 
Because our days upon earth are a shadow. 

Job, viii, 9. 

I am gone like a shadow when it declineth. 

Ps. cix, 23. 

OF NIGHT 
AND DARKNESS 

The day is thine, the night also is thine: 
Thou hast prepared the light and the sun. 
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: 
Thou hast made summer and winter. 

Ps. Ixxiv, 16, 17. 

But none saith, Where is God my Maker, 

Who giveth songs in the night? Job, xxxv, 10. 

The people that walked in darkness have seen a 
great light. Is. ix, 2. 

For the pestilence that walketh in darkness. 

Ps. xcij 6. 

The way of the wicked is as darkness, 

They know not at what they stumble. Prov. iv, 19. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine 
hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness 



80 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF NIGHT 
AND DARKNESS 

over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may 
be felt. Exod. x, 21. 

Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye 
shall have no vision ; and it shall be dark unto you, 
that ye shall not divine, and the sun shall go down 
upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over 
them. Micah, Hi, 6. 



OF SLEEP 

In thoughts from the visions of the night, 

When deep sleep falleth on men. Job, iv, 13. 

For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of 
deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes, the prophets ; 
and your heads, the seers, hath he covered. 

Is. xxix, 10. 

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, 

A little folding of thy hands to sleep. Prov. vi, 10. 

For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep. 

Ps. cxxvii, 2. 

They are as sleep. Ps. xc, 5. 

Then the Lord awaked as one out of a sleep. 

Ps. Ixxviii, 65. 

The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their 
sleep. Ps. lxxvi } 5. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 81 



OF SLEEP 

I will not give sleep to mine eyes, 

Or slumber to mine eyelids; 

Until I find out a place for the Lord, 

A tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob. 

Ps. cxxxii, 4, 5. 

OF DREAMS 
AND VISIONS 

In a dream, in a vision of the night, 

When deep sleep falleth upon men, 

In slumbering upon the bed ; 

Then he openeth the ears of men, 

And sealeth their instruction, 

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, 

And hide pride from man. Job, xxxiii, 15-17. 

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I shall pour 
out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and 
your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall 
dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 

Joel, ii, 28. 

We were like unto them that dream. Ps. cxxvu 1. 

As a dream when one awaketh; 
So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise 
their image. Ps. Ixxiii, 20. 

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found : 

Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the 

night. Job, xx, 8. 

And it shall be as when an hungry man dreameth, 
and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his 



82 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF DREAMS 
AND VISIONS 



soul is empty : or as when a thirsty man dreameth, 
and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, 
behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: 
so shall the multitude of all the nations be that 
fight against mount Zion. Is. xxix, 9. 






V— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 

SUPREME BEING, THE CREATOR OF 

ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND 

ON EARTH 

OF THE JOY OF NATURE IN ITS CREATOR; 
OF THE GLORY AND THE MIGHT AND THE 
MAJESTY OF THE LORD; OF THE VARIED 
DESIGNATIONS OF THE NAME OF THE LORD 

OF NATURE'S JOY 
IN THE CREATOR 

When the morning stars sang together, 
And all the sons of God shouted for joy. 

Job, xxxviii, 7. 

The mountains skipped like tarns, 

The little hills like young sheep. Ps. cxiv, 4. 

Let heaven and earth praise him, 

The seas, and every thing that moveth therein. 

Ps. Ixix, 34. 

The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice ; 

Let the multitude of isles be glad. Ps. xcvii, 1. 

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: 
Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises. 

Ps. xcviii, 4. 

Let the field exult, and all that is therein; 
Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy. 

Ps. xcvi, 12. 
83 



84 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF NATURES JOY 
IN THE CREATOR 

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof, 

The world, and they that dwell therein; 

Let the floods clap their hands ; 

Let the hills sing for joy together. Ps. xcviii, 7, 8. 

Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it ; shout, 
ye lower parts of the earth ; break forth into sing- 
fog* ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein : 
for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify 
himself in Israel. Is. xliv, 23. 

The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break 
forth into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at 
thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since 
thou art laid down, no feller is come up against 
us. Is. xiv, 7, 8. 



OF THE GLORY AND THE 

MIGHT AND MAJESTY OF THE LORD 

The heavens declare the glory of God; 
And the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

Ps. XIX, I. 

His glory covered the heavens, 

And the earth was full of his praise. Hab. Hi, 3. 

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, 
holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole world is full 
of his glory. Is. in, 3. 

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, na- 
tions, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 85 



OF THE GLORY AND THE 

MIGHT AND MAJESTY OF THE LORD 

peace be multiplied unto you. It hath seemed 
good unto me to shew the signs and wonders that 
the Most High God hath wrought toward me. 
How great are his signs ! and how mighty are his 
wonders ! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 
and his dominion is from generation to generation. 

Dan. iv, 1-3. 

Know therefore this day, and lay it to thine heart, 
that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon 
the earth beneath: there is none else. 

Dent, iv, 39. 

For the Lord your God, he is God of gods, and 
Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the 
terrible, which regardeth not persons nor taketh 
rewards. Deut. x 3 17. 

And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and 
into holes of the earth, from before the terror of 
the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when 
he ariseth to shake mightily the earth. Is. ii, 19. 

The great day of the Lord is near, it is near and 
hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the 
Lord; the mighty man crieth there bitterly. That 
day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and dis- 
tress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of 
darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and 
thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm, 
against the fenced cities, and against the high bat- 
tlements. Zeph. ij 14-16. 



86 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE DESIGNATIONS 

OF THE NAME OF THE LORD 

O Lord, thou art very great ; 

Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 

Ps. civ, I. 

Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, thou shalt glory in 
the Holy One of Israel. Is. xli, 16. 

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
And to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. 

Ps. xcii, I. 

Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, 

My King, and my God. Ps. Ixxxiv, 3. 

Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know 
that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside 
him. Dent, iv, 35. 

Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Ps. xc, 2. 

My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God. 

Ps. Ixxxiv, 2. 

The eternal God is thy dwelling place, 
And underneath are the everlasting arms. 

Deut. xxxiii, 27. 

Hast thou not known ? hast thou not heard ? the ever- 
lasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of 
the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary. 

Is. xl, 28. 

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God; 
the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 87 



OF THE DESIGNATIONS 

OF THE NAME OF THE LORD 

mercy with them that love him and keep his com- 
mandments to a thousand generations. 

Deat. vii, 9. 

I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, God Most 
High, possessor of heaven and earth. 

Gen. xw, 22. 

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: 

Cast up a high way for him that rideth through 

the deserts; 
His name is JAH; and exult ye before him. 

Ps. Ixviii, 4. 

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth 
your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of 
kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou hast 
been able to reveal this secret. Dan. ii, 47. 

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour 
the King of heaven; for all his works are truths, 
and his ways judgement: and those that walk in 
pride he is able to abase. Dan. iv, 37. 

And I blessed the Most High God, and I praised and 
honoured him that liveth for ever; for his do- 
minion is an everlasting dominion, and his king- 
dom from generation to generation: and all the 
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: 
and he doeth according to his will in the army of 
heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth : 
and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, 
What doest thou? Dan. iv, 34, 35. 



VI— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
ELEMENTAL EMOTIONS 

OF GRATITUDE AND PRAISE OF THE CREA- 
TOR; OF JOY AND MUSIC AND GLADNESS; 
OF SORROW AND GRIEF AND MOURNING; OF 
WEEPING AND WAILING AND LAMENTATION 

OF GRATITUDE AND 
PRAISE OF THE LORD 

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice. 

Ps. cviii, 7. 

Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from 
the top of the mountains. Let them give glory 
unto the Lord, and declare his praises to the 
islands. Is. xlii, II. 

Sing praises unto the Lord with the harp ; 
With the harp, and the voice of melody. 
With trumpets and sound of cornet 
Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. 

Ps. x cviii, 5, 6. 

Awake, psaltery and harp: 

I myself will awake right early. 

I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the 
peoples : 

And I will sing praises unto thee among the na- 
tions. Ps. cviii, 2, 3. 

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
And to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High : 

88 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 89 



OF GRATITUDE AND 
PRAISE OF THE LORD 

To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, 

And thy faithfulness every night, 

With an instrument of ten strings, and with the 

psaltery ; 
With a solemn sound upon the harp. Ps. xcii, 1-3. 

I will also praise thee with the psaltery, 

Even thy truth, O my God: 

Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, 

O thou Holy One of Israel. Ps. Ixxi, 22. 

Sing aloud unto God our strength: 

Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 

Take up the psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, 

The pleasant harp with the psaltery. 

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, 

At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. 

Ps. Ixxxi, 1-4. 

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: 

Praise him with the psaltery and harp. 

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: 

Praise him with stringed instruments and the pipe. 

Praise him upon the loud cymbals : 

Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. 

Ps. clj 3-6. 



OF JOY AND 

MUSIC AND GLADNESS 

They joy before thee according to the joy in har- 
vest. Is. ix, 3. 



90 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF JOY AND 

MUSIC AND GLADNESS 

And behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and kill- 
ing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us 
eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. 

Is. xxii, 3. 

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with 
peace: the mountains and the hills shall break 
forth before you into singing, and all the trees of 
the field shall clap their hands. Is. Iv, 12. 

The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice 
of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the 
voice of them that say, Give thanks to the Lord 
of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his mercy en- 
dureth for ever: and of them that bring sacrifices 
of thanksgiving into the house of the Lord. 

lev. xxxiii, 11. 

He hath comforted all her waste places, and hath 
made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert 
like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness 
shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice 
of melody. Is. li, 3. 

And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, 
and shall flow together unto the goodness of the 
Lord, to the corn, and to the wine, and to the oil, 
and to the young of the flock and of the herd; 
and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and 
they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall 
the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men 
and old together: for I will turn their mourning 
into joy, and will comfort them, and make them 
rejoice from their sorrow. ler. xxxi, 12, 13. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 91 



OF JOY AND 

MUSIC AND GLADNESS 

They send forth their little ones like a flock, 
And their children dance. 
They sing to the timbrel and harp, 
And rejoice at the sound of the pipe. 

Job, xxi, 12, 13. 

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, 

And our tongue with singing. Ps. cxxvi, 2. 

Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy 
feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one 
goeth with a pipe to come into the mountains of 
the Lord, to the Rock of Israel. Is, xxx, 29. 

The singers went before, the minstrels followed 

after, 
In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels. 

Ps. Ixviii, 25. 

All thy garments smell of myrrh a and aloes, and 

cassia ; 
Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made 

thee glad. Ps. xlv, 8. 

Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the 
seat of violence to come near; that lie upon beds 
of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their 
couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and 
the calves out of the midst of the stall ; that sing 
idle songs to the sound of the viol ; that devise for 
themselves instruments of music, like David; that 
drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with 
the chief ointments; but they are not grieved for 
the affliction of Joseph. Amos, vi, 3-6. 



92 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF JOY AND 

MUSIC AND GLADNESS 

And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, 
and wine are in their feasts. Is. v, 12. 

Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; 
for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 

Amos, v, 23. 

OF SORROW 
AND GRIEF 

He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of 
sorrow, and acquainted with grief. Is. liii, 3. 

Behold, and see if there is any sorrow like unto my 
sorrow which is done unto me. Lam. i, 12. 

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, 

And all my members are as a shadow. Job, xvii, 7. 

Mine eye wasteth away because of grief; 
It waxeth old because of all mine adversaries. 

Ps. vij 7. 

There is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. 

Jer. xlix, 23. 

OF MOURNING 

Her handmaids mourn as with the voice of doves, 
tabering upon their breasts. Nahum, ii, 7. 

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jeru- 
salem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the 
valley of Megiddon. Tech. xii, II. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 93 



OF MOURNING 

Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, 

And my pipe into the voices of them that weep. 

Job, xxx, 31. 

Therefore mine heart soundeth for Moab like pipes, 
and mine heart soundeth like pipes for the men of 
Kir-heres. Jer. xlviii, 36. 

And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for 
his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, 
as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 

Zech. xii, 10. 

Thy sons and daughters shall be given unto another 
people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with 
longing for them all the day. Deut. xxviii, 32. 

Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but 
weep sore for him that goeth away; for he shall 
return no more, nor see his native country. 

Jer. xxxi, 10. 

The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all 
the merryhearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets 
ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the 
joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink 
wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to 
them that drink it. Is. xxiv, 7, 8. 

And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the 
fruitful field; and in the vineyards there shall be 
no singing, neither joyful noise: no treader shall 
tread out wine in the presses; I have made the 
vintage shout to cease. Is. xvi, 10. 



04 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF WEEPING 
AND WAILING 

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter 
weeping, Rachel weeping for her children ; she re- 
fuseth to be comforted for her children, because 
they are not. Jer. xxxi, 15. 

She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on 
her cheeks. Lam. i, 2. 

For these things I weep ; mine eye, mine eye runneth 
clown with water. Lam. i, 16. 

By reason of the voice of my groaning 

My bones cleave to my flesh. Ps. cii, 5. 

For I have eaten ashes like bread, 

And mingled my drink with weeping. Ps. cii, 9. 

Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for 
the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my 
tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh: for upon thy sum- 
mer fruits and upon thy harvest the battle shout is 
fallen. Is. xvi, 9. 

The sound of a cry from Horonaim, spoiling and 
great destruction! Moab is destroyed; her little 
ones have caused a cry to be heard. For by the 
ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they 
go up; for in the going down of Horonaim they 
have heard the distress of the cry of destruction. 

Jer. xlviii, 3-5. 

Wailing shall be in all the broad ways ; and they 
shall say in all the streets, Alas! alas! and they 
shall call the husbandmen to mourning, and such 
as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. And in 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 95 



OF WEEPING 
AND WAILING 

all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass 
through the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 

Amos, v, 16. 

OF LAMENTATION 

Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the 
husband of her youth. Joel, i, 8. 

The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the 

ground, they keep silence; 
They have cast up dust upon their heads ; they have 

girded themselves with sackcloth. Lam. it, 10. 

O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, 
and wallow thyself in ashes : make thee mourning, 
as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for 
the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. 

Jer. vi, 26. 

Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, 
and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; 
for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken the gen- 
eration of his wrath. Jer. vii, 29. 

Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that 
they may come; and send for the cunning women, 
that they may come: and let them make haste, 
and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may 
run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out 
with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard out 
of Zion, How are we spoiled! Jer. ix, 17-19. 

Therefore will Moab howl for Moab, every one shall 
howl : for the raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth shall ye 
mourn, utterly stricken, Is. xxi, 7. 



96 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF LAMENTATION 

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled; cry, ye 
daughters of Rabbah, gird ye with sackcloth; 
lament, and run to and fro among the fences; for 
Malcam shall go into captivity, his priests and 
his princes together. Jer. xlix, 3. 



OF NATURE'S LAMENT 

For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above 
be black. Jer. iv, 28. 

Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of 
Lebanon languisheth. Nahwn, i, 4. 

And I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all 
the trees of the field fainted for him. 

Ezek. xxxi, 15. 

And the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn, and 
the top of Carmel shall wither. Amos, i, 2. 

The fishers also shall lament, and all they that cast 
angle in the Nile shall mourn, and they that spread 
nets upon the waters shall languish. Is. xix, 8. 

The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is 
ashamed and withereth away: Sharon is like a 
desert; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their 
leaves. Is. xxxiii, 9. 

Howl, O fir tree, for the cedar is fallen, because 
the goodly ones are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of 
Bashan, for the strong forest is come down. A 
voice of the howling of the shepherds! for their 
glory is spoiled : a voice of the roaring of young 
lions ! for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. 

Zech. xi, 2, 3. 



VII— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
PROCESSION OF LIFE 

OF YOUTH, OLD AGE, DEATH AND THE GRAVE 

OF YOUTH 

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart 
cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in 
the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine 
eyes : but know thou, that for all these things God 
will bring thee into judgement Therefore remove 
sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy 
flesh: for youth and the prime of life are vanity. 
Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth, or ever the evil days come, and the years 
draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleas- 
ure in them. Eccles. xi, 9, 10; xii, 1. 

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; 

He returneth to the days of youth. Job, xxxiii, 25. 

For he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of 
a fair countenance. /. Sam. xvii, 42. 

And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young 
man and a goodly; and there was not among the 
children of Israel a goodlier person than he : from 
his shoulders upwards he was higher than any of 
the people. /. Sam. ix, 2. 

Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, 
that he is cunning in playing, and a mighty man 
of valour, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, 
and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. 

/. Sam. xvi, 18. 
97 



98 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF OLD AGE 

The glory of young men is their strength : 
And the beauty of old men is the hoary head. 

Prov. xx, 29. 

The hoary head is a crown of glory, 

It shall be found in the way of righteousness. 

Prov. xvij 31. 

As I was in the ripeness of my days, 
When the secret of God was upon my tent. 

Job, xxix, 4. 

And the man was an old man in the days of Saul, 
stricken in years among men. 

/. Sam, xvii, 12. 

I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was 
ancient of days did sit. Dan. vii, 9. 

And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good 
old age, an old man, and full of years. 

Gen. xxv, 8. 

There shall yet old men and women dwell in the 
streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in 
his hand for very age. Zech. viii, 4. 

My tent is spoiled, and all my cords are broken : my 
children are gone forth of me, and they are not: 
there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, 
and to set up my curtains. Jer. x, 20. 



OF DEATH 

And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the 
earth. Josh, xxiii, 14. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 99 



OF DEATH 

For when a few years are come, 

I shall go the way whence I shall not return. 

Job, xvi, 22. 

I should have been as though I had not been. 

Job, x, 19. 

The dead praise not the Lord, 

Neither any that go down into silence. Ps. cxv, 17. 

Lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. 

Ps. xiii, 3. 

When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with 
thy fathers. II. Sam. vii 3 12. 

Desire not the night, 

When people are cut off in their place. 

Job, xx xvi, 20. 

For death is come up into our windows, it is entered 
into our palaces ; to cut off the children from with- 
out, and the young men from the streets. 

Jer. ix, 21. 

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are 

gone ; 
Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the 

way as all other, 
And are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 

Job, xxiv, 24. 

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their 

lives, 
And in their death they were not divided. 

//, Sam. i, 23. 



100 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF DEATH 

And the lamp of God was not yet gone out. 

/. Sam. Hi, 2. 

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl 
be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the foun- 
tain, or the wheel broken at the cistern: and the 
dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit 
return unto God who gave it. Eccles. xii, 6, 7. 

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death. 

Prov. xvi, 14. 

For love is as strong as death. 

Song of Songs, viii, 6. 

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind. 

Ps. xx xx, 12. 

Among them that are lusty we are as dead men. 

Is. lix, 10. 

He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those 
that have been long dead. Lam. Hi, 6. 

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, 
And he shall have no name in the street. 

Job. xviii, 17. 

He shall be rooted out of his tent wherein he 

trusteth ; 
And he shall be brought to the king of terrors. 

Job, xviii, 14. 

The cords of Sheol were round about me: 
The snares of death came upon me. 

//. Sam. xxii, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 101 



OF DEATH 

But truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, 
there is but a step between me and death. 

/. Sam. xx, 3. 

For the waves of death compassed me, 
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 

77. Sam. xxii, 5. 

But man dieth and wasteth away : 

Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 

As the waters fail from the sea, 

And the river decayeth and drieth up; 

So man lieth down and riseth not; 

Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, 

Nor be roused out of their sleep. Job, xiv, 10-12. 

And on my eyelids is the shadow of death. 

Job, xvi, 16. 

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, 
upon them hath the light shined. Is. ix, 2. 

And turneth the shadow of death into the morning, 
and maketh the day dark as night. Amos, v, 8. 

For the morning is to all of them as the shadow of 

death ; 
For they know the terrors of the shadow of death. 

Job, xxiv, 17. 

Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? 
Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? 

Job, xxxviii, 17. 

Before I go whence I shall not return, 
Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of 
death; 



102 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF DEATH 

A land of thick darkness, as darkness itself; 

A land of the shadow of death, without any order, 

And where the light is as darkness. Job, x, 21, 22. 

Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause 
darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the 
dark mountains; and, while ye look for the light, 
he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it 
gross darkness. Jer. xiii, 16. 

All flesh shall perish together, 

And man shall turn again unto dust. 

Job, xx xiv, 15. 

And thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 

Ps. xxii, 14. 

One dieth in full strength, 

Being wholly at ease and quiet: 

And another dieth in bitterness of soul, 

And never tasteth of good. 

They lie down alike in the dust, 

And the worm covereth them. Job, xxi, 23, 25, 26. 



OF THE GRAVE 

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, 
And to the house appointed for all living. 

Job, xxx, 23. 

Because man goeth to his long home, and the 
mourners go about the streets. Eccles. xii, 5. 

Their throat is an open sepulchre. Ps. v, 9. 






The Old Testament Phrase Booh 103 



OF THE GRAVE 

Jealousy is cruel as the grave. 



Song of Songs, viii, 6. 



Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, 
Like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season. 

Job, v, 26. 
My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, 
My grave is ready for me. Job, xvii, 1. 

And if ye take this one also from me, and mischief 
befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs 
with sorrow to the grave. Gen. xliv, 29. 

I am as a man that hath no help : 
Cast off among the dead, 
Like the slain that lie in the grave, 
Whom thou rememberest no more; 
And they are cut off from thy hand. 

Ps. Ixxxvii, 4, 5. 

Yet shall he be borne to the grave, 

And shall keep watch over the tomb. 

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, 

And all men shall draw after him, 

As there were innumerable before him. 

Job, xxi, 32, 33. 

There the wicked cease from troubling; 

And there the weary be at rest. 

There the prisoners are at ease together; 

They hear not the voice of the taskmaster. 

The small and the great are there ; 

And the servant is free from his master. 

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, 

And life unto the bitter in soul; 



104 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE GRAVE 

Which long for death, but it cometh not; 
And dig for it more than for hid treasures; 
Which rejoice exceedingly, 
And are glad when they can find the grave? 

Job, Hi, 17-22. 



VIII— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
MEASURE OF THINGS 

OF TIME AND ETERNITY, NUMBER AND 
MULTITUDE, DISTANCE AND BOUNDS, 
HEIGHT AND DEPTH, SIZE AND WEIGHT 

OF TIME AND ETERNITY 

As in the days of old, the generations of ancient 
times. Is. li, 9. 

I have considered the days of old, 

The years of ancient times. Ps. Ixxvii, 5. 

I will utter dark sayings of old: 
iWhich we have heard and known, 
And our fathers have told us. 

Ps. Ixxviii, 2, 3. 

Remember the days of old, 
Consider the years of many generations: 
Ask thy father, and he will shew thee; 
Thine elders, and they will tell thee. 

Deut. xxxii, 7. 

Oh that I were as in the months of old, 

As in the days when God watched over me. 

Job, xxix, 2. 

We bring our years to an end, as a tale that is told. 

Ps. xc, 9. 
105 



106 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF TIME AND ETERNITY 

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient 
days? Is. xxiii, 7. 

For a thousand years in thy sight 

Are but as yesterday when it is past. Ps. xc, 4. 

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, 
Or ever the earth was. Prov. viii, 23. 

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, 
Before his works of old. Prov. viii, 22. 

Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants 
of the land, Hath this been in your day, or in the 
day of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, 
and let your children tell their children, and their 
children another generation. Joel, i, 2. 

For ask now of the days that are past, which were 
before thee, since the day that God created man 
upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven 
unto the other, whether there hath been any such 
thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like 
it. Deut. iv, 32. 

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the 
land that I gave to your fathers, from of old even 
for evermore. Jer. vii, 7. 

His seed also will I make to endure for ever, 
And his throne as the days of heaven. 

Ps. Ixxxix, 29. 

They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, 
And as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 

Ps. Ixxii, 5. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 107 



OF TIME AND ETERNITY 

His name shall endure for ever; 

His name shall be continued as long as the sun. 

Ps. Ixxii, 17. 

His seed shall endure for ever, 
And his throne as the sun before me. 

Ps. Ixxxix, 36. 

It shall be established for ever as the moon, 
And as the faithful witness in the sky. 

Ps. Ixxxix, 37. 

In his days shall the righteous flourish; 

And abundance of peace, till the moon be no more. 

Ps. Ixxii, 7. 

Until two thousand and three hundred evenings and 
mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 

Dan. viii, 14. 

And he shall come on at the end of the times, even of 
years, with a great army and with much substance. 

Dan. xi, 13. 

And sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall 
be for a time, times, and an half. Dan. xii, 7. 

And they shall be given into his hand until a time 
and times and half a time. Dan. vii, 25. 

Yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a 
time. Dan. vii, 12. 

But shut thou up the vision ; for it belongeth to many 
days to come. Dan, viii, 26. 



108 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF TIME AND ETERNITY 

Now I am going to make thee understand what shall 
befall thy people in the latter days: for the vision 
is yet for many days. Dan. x, 14. 

Understand, O son of man, for the vision belongeth 
to the time of the end. Dan. viii, 17. 

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the 
book, even to the time of the end. Dan. xii, 4. 



OF NUMBER 
AND MULTITUDE 

Who can count the dust of Jacob, 
Or number the fourth part of Israel? 

Num. xxiii, 10. 

If I should count them, they are more in number 
than the sand. Ps. cxxxix, 18. 

And they gather captives as the sand. Hab. i, 9. 

And they went out, they and all their hosts with 
them, much people, even as the sand that is upon 
the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots 
very many. Josh, xi, 4. 

But the multitude of thy foes shall be like dust. 

Is. xxix, 5. 

And Tyre did build herself a strong hold, and heaped 
up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of 
the streets. Zech. ix, 3, 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 109 



OF NUMBER 
AND MULTITUDE 

And thy seed shall "be as the dust of the earth, and 
thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the 
east, and to the north, and to the south: and in 
thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the 
earth be blessed. Gen. xxviii, 14. 

As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither 
the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply 
the seed of David my servant, and the Levites 
that will minister unto me. Jer. xxxiii, 22. 

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying 
I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, 
and as the sand which is upon the sea shore. 

Gen. xxii, 17. 

They are more than the hairs of mine head. 

Ps. xl, 12. 

For they came up with their cattle and their tents, 
they came in as locusts for multitude; both they 
and their camels were without number. 

Judg. vi, 5. 

Behold, God is great, and we know him not; 
The number of his years is unsearchable. 

Job, xxxvi, 26. 

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even 
thousands upon thousands. Ps. Ixviii, 17. 

Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten 
thousand ten thousand stood before him. 

Dan. vii, 10. 



110 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF DISTANCE 
AND BOUNDS 

As far as the east is from the west, 
So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

Ps. ciii, 12. 

They come from a far country, from the uttermost 
part of heaven, even the Lord. Is. xiii, 5. 

As far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. 

Judg. xx, 43. 

The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, 
from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth. 

Deut. xxviii, 49. 

And the Lord shall scatter thee among all peoples, 
from the one end of the earth even unto the other 
end of the earth. Deut. xxviii, 64. 

And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and 
shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather 
together the dispersed of Judah from the four 
corners of the earth. Is. xi, 12. 

From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, and even 
unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the 
land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward 
the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 

Josh, i, 4. 

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, 
And from the River unto the ends of the earth. 

Ps. Ixxii, 8. 

Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God 
afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places 
that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. 

Jer. xxiii, 23. 24. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 111 



OF DISTANCE 
AND BOUNDS 

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the con- 
gregation was assembled as one man, from Dan 
even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto 
the Lord at Mizpah. Judg. xx, I. 



OF HEIGHT AND DEPTH 

It is high as heaven. Job, xi, 8. 

For as the heaven is high above the earth, 
So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 

Ps. cii, II. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are 
my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts 
than your thoughts. Is. Iv, 9. 

Deeper than Sheol. Job, xi, 8. 



OF LENGTH 
AND BREADTH 

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, 

And broader than the sea. Job, xi, 9. 

Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths. 

Ps. xxxix, 5. 

OF SMALLNESS 

For who hath despised the day of small things? 

Zech. iv, 10. 

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and 
are counted as the small dust of the balance: be- 
hold, he taketh up the isles as a very small thing. 

Is. xl, 15. 



112 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF WEIGHT 
AND MEASURE 

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of 

high degree are a lie: 
In the balances they will go up; 
They are together lighter than vanity. Ps. Ixii, 9, 

Oh that my vexation were but weighed, 
And my calamity laid in the balances together ! 
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea. 

Job, vi, 2, 3. 

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, 

And seeth under the whole heaven; 

To make a weight for the wind ; 

Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure. 

Job, xxviii, 24, 25. 

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his 
hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and 
comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, 
and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills 
in a balance? Is. xl, 12. 



IX— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
QUALITIES OF PERSONS AND THINGS 

COLOR AND APPEARANCE; SWIFTNESS 
AND FIERCENESS, STRENGTH AND FEAR- 
LESSNESS, WEAKNESS AND FEAR, UN- 
CHANGEABLENESS AND CHANGEABLENESS, 
MEEKNESS AND STUBBORNNESS, TENDER- 
NESS AND FIDELITY AND FRIENDSHIP 

OF COLOR 

AND APPEARANCE 

I am black, but comely, 

ye daughters of Jerusalem, 
As the tents of Kedar, 

As the curtains of Solomon. 

Song of Songs, i, 5. 

His locks are bushy, and black as a raven. 

Song of Songs, v, 11. 

Their visage is blacker than a coal. Lam. iv, 8. 

1 clothe the heavens with blackness. Is. i, 3. 

Our skin is black like an oven, 
Because of the burning heat of famine. 

Lam. iv, 10. 

His body is as ivory work overlaid with sapphires. 

Song of Songs, v, 14. 

His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his 
head like pure wool. Dan. vii, 9. 

113 



114 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF COLOR 

AND APPEARANCE 

Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter 
than milk. Lam. iv, J. 

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white 
as snow; though they be red like crimson, they 
shall be as wool. Is. i, 18. 

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet. 

Song of Songs, iv, 3. 

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy 
garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 

Is. Ixiii, 2. 

They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their 
polishing was as of sapphire. Lam. iv, 7. 

Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, 

And the hair of thine head like purple; 

The king is held captive in the tresses thereof. 

Song of Songs, vii, 5. 

The appearance of the wheels and their work was 
like unto the colour of a beryl. Ezek, i, 16. 

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the 
appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of 
fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to 
burnished brass. Dan. x, 5, 6. 

And they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 

Ezek. i, 7. 

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their ap- 
pearance was like burning coals of fire, like the 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 115 



OF COLOR 

AND APPEARANCE 

appearance of torches ; it went up and down among 
the living creatures ; and the fire was bright, and 
out of the fire went forth lightning. And the 
living creature ran and returned as the appearance 
of a flash of lightning. Ezek. i, 13, 14. 

And over the head of the living creature there was 
the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the 
terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads 
above. Ezek. i, 22. 

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in 
the day of rain, so was the appearance of the 
brightness round about. Ezek. i, 28. 



OF SWIFTNESS 
AND FIERCENESS 

Their horses are swifter than leopards, and more 
fierce than the evening wolves. Hab. i, 8. 

Our pursuers are swifter than the eagles of heaven: 

They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait 

for us in the wilderness. Lam. iv, 19. 

Now my days are swifter than a post: 
They flee away, they see no good. 
They are passed away as the swift ships: 
As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. 

Job, ix, 25, 26. 

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. 

Job, vii, 6. 



116 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF STRENGTH 

AND FEARLESSNESS 

Ascribe ye strength unto God: 
His excellency is over Israel, 
And his strength is in the skies. Ps. Ixviii, 34. 

Canst thou with him spread out the sky, 
Which is strong as a molten mirror? 

Job, xxxvii, 18. 

Behold, the Lord will hurl thee away violently as a 
strong man. Is. xxii, 17. 

Bless the Lord, ye angels of his : 

Ye mighty of strength, that fulfil his word. 

Ps. ciii, 20. 

Is my strength the strength of stones? 

Or is my flesh of brass ? Job, vi, 12. 

His bones are as tubes of brass ; 

His limbs are like bars of iron. Job, xl, 18. 

He counteth iron as straw, 

And brass as rotten wood. Job, xli, 27. 

In his neck abideth strength, 

And terror danceth before him. Job, xli, 22. 

Clubs are counted as stubble, 

He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. 

Job, xli, 29. 

OF WEAKNESS AND FEAR 

Their might hath failed ; they are become as women. 

Jer. li, 30. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 117 



OF WEAKNESS AND FEAR 

Then the king's countenance was changed in him, 
and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of 
his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one 
against another. Dan. v, 6. 

In that day shall Egypt be like unto a woman: and 
it shall tremble and fear because of the shaking 
of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh 
over it. Is. xix, 16. 



OF UNCHANGEABLENESS 

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard 
his spots? Jer. xiii, 23. 

That which hath been is that which shall be; and 
that which hath been done is that which shall be 
done : and there is no new thing under the sun. 

Eccles. i, 9. 

Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the 
writing, that it be not changed, according to the 
law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth 
not. Dan. vi t 8. 



OF CHANGEABLENESS 

Unstable as water, thou shalt not have the excellency. 

Gen. xlix, 4. 

OF HARDNESS 
AND FIRMNESS 

They have made their faces harder than a rock. 

Jer. v, 3. 



118 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF HARDNESS 
AND FIRMNESS 

Their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint. 

Is. v, 28. 

His heart is as firm as a stone, 

Yea, firm as the nether millstone. Job, xii, 24. 



OF MEEKNESS 

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the 
men which were upon the face of the earth. 

Num. xii, 3. 

OF STUBBORNNESS 

Know therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee 
not this good land to possess it for thy righteous- 
ness, for thou art a stififnecked people. 

Deut. viii, 6. 

OF TENDERNESS 

And Leah's eyes were tender; but Rachel was beau- 
tiful and well favoured. Gen. xxix, 17. 



OF FIDELITY 

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, and to 
return from following after thee: for whither thou 
goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will 
lodge : thy people shall be my people, and thy God 
my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there 
will I be buried : the Lord do so to me, and more 
also, if aught but death part thee and me. 

Ruth, i, 16, 17. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 119 



OF FRIENDSHIP 

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of 
speaking with Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was 
knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved 
him as his own soul. I. Sam. xviii, I. 

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : 

Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: 

Thy love to me was wonderful, 

Passing the love of women. 77. Sam. i, 26. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a 
man speaketh unto his friend. Exod. xxxiii, 11. 

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds 
between thine arms? Then he shall answer, 
Those with which I was wounded in the house of 
my friends. Zech. xiii, 6. 

Faithful are the wounds of a friend: 
But the kisses of an enemy are profuse. 

Prov. xxvii, 6. 



X— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING THE 
SUPREME CREATION, MAN 

OF MAN AND WOMAN AND THE RELATIONS 
OF THE FAMILY AND HOME; OF THE HOME 
AND THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE HOME; 
OF occupations; OF CITIES AND NATIONS 

OF MAN AND WOMAN 

In the day that God created man, in the likeness of 
God made he him; male and female created he 
them, and blessed them and called their name 
Adam, in the day when they were created. 

Gen. v, I, 2. 

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the 
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath 
of life ; and man became a living soul. Gen. ii, 7. 

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man 
should be alone ; I will make him an help meet for 
him. Gen. ii, 18. 

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon 
the man, and he slept ; and he took one of his ribs, 
and closed up the flesh thereof: and the rib, which 
the Lord God had taken from the man, made he 
a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

Gen. ii, 21, 22. 

And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, 
and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called Woman, 
120 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 121 



OF MAN AND WOMAN 

because she was taken out of Man. Therefore 
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and 
shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one 
flesh. Gen. ii, 23, 24, 

OF THE PARTS OF MAN 

Keep a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; 

Keep the door of my lips. Ps. cxli, 3. 

They have set their mouth in the heavens, 
And their tongue walketh through the earth. 

Ps. Ixxiii, 9. 

Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, 

If I remember thee not; 

If I prefer not Jerusalem, 

Above my chief joy. Ps. cxxxvii, 6. 

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, 

Let my right hand forget her cunning. 

Ps. cxxxvii, 7. 

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it 
cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot 
hear. Is. lix, 1. 

I was eyes to the blind, 

And feet was I to the lame. Job. xxix, 15. 

I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever 
heareth, his ears shall tingle. Jer. xix, 3. 

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, 
And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 

Job, xix, 20. 



122 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF THE PARTS OF MAN 

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their 
ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with 
their eyes, and hear with their ears, and under- 
stand with their heart. Is. vi, 10. 

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his 
countenance, or on the height of his stature; be- 
cause I have rejected him: for the Lord seeth not 
as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward 
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 

/. Sam. xvi, 7. 

OF FAMILY RELATIONS 
The Father 

Like as a father pitieth his children, 
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 

Ps. cm, 13. 

And thou shalt consider in thine heart, that, as a 
man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God 
chasteneth thee. Deut. viii, 5. 

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, 
Is God in his holy habitation. Ps. Ixviii, 5. 

The Mother 

The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, 

Until that I Deborah arose, 

That I arose a mother in Israel. Judg. v, y. 

The Children 

Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine, in the innermost 

parts of thine house: 
Thy children like olive plants, round about thy table. 

Ps. cxxviii, 3. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 123 



OF FAMILY RELATIONS 

The Children 

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord. 

Ps. cxxvii, 3. 

OF THE HOUSE 

Be thou unto me as a rock of habitation, whereunto 
I may continually resort. Ps. Ixxx, 3. 

How much more them that dwell in houses of 'clay, 

Whose foundation is in the dust, 

Which are crushed before the moth! Job, iv, 19. 

For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam 
out of the timber shall answer it. Hab. ii, 11. 

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters. 

Ps. civ, 3. 

It is he that buildeth his chambers in the heaven, and 
hath founded his vault upon the earth. 

Amos, ix, 6. 

That ye may slay him, all of you, 

Like a bowing wall, like a tottering fence. 

Ps. Ixii, 3. 

The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall 
be moved to and fro like a hut. Is. xxiv, 20. 



OF THE PALACE 

And our daughters as cornerstones hewn after the 
fashion of a palace. Ps. cxliv, 12. 



124 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE TOWER 

Thy neck is like the tower of ivory. 

Song of Songs, vii, 4. 

Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon 
Which looketh toward Damascus. 

Song of Songs, vii, 4. 

OF THE HOUSE OF GOD 

Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a 
tried stone, a precious cornerstone of sure founda- 
tion : he that believeth shall not make haste. And 
I will make judgement the line, and righteousness 
the plummet. Is. xxviii, 14. 

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God. 
Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 

Ps. Ixxxiv, 10. 

Of the Sacrifice in 
the House of the Lord 

Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee ; 
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 

Ps. cxli, 2. 

OF FOOD AND DRINK 

And eat the bread of toil. Ps. cxxvii, 2. 

She looketh well to the ways of her household, 
And eateth not the bread of idleness. 

Prov. xxxi, 27. 

And bread that strengthens man's heart. 

Ps. civ, 15. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 125 



OF FOOD AND DRINK 

Thou hast fed them with the tread of tears, 
And given them tears to drink in large measure. 

Ps. Ixxx, 5. 

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! 
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

Ps. cxix, 103. 

Then did I eat; and it was in my mouth as honey 
for sweetness. Ezek. Hi, 3. 

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 

Ps. xix, 10. 

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, 
Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 

Prov. xvi, 24. 

Thy lips, O my bride, drop as the honeycomb: 
Honey and milk are under thy tongue. 

Song of Songs, iv, 11. 

They gave me also gall for my meat; 

And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 

Ps. I xix, 21. 

Let his own eyes see his destruction, 

And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 

Job, xxi, 20. 

Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast 
drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury ; 
thou hast drunken the bowl of the cup of stagger- 
ing and drained it. Is. li, 17. 



126 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF CLOTHING 

Strength and dignity are her clothing. 

Prov. xxxi, 25. 

I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make 
sackcloth their covering. Is. I, 3. 

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, 
And thick darkness a swaddling band for it. 

Job, xxxviii, 9. 

And he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, 
as a shepherd putteth on his garment. 

Jer. xliii, 12. 

Who coverest thyself with light as a garment. 

Ps. civ, 2. 

For he hath clothed me with the garments of salva- 
tion, he hath covered me with the robe of righteous- 
ness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a gar- 
land, and as a bride adorneth herself with her 
jewels. Is. Ixi, 10. 

Though I am like a rotting thing that consumeth, 
Like a garment that is moth-eaten. Job, xiii, 28. 

For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and 
the worm shall eat them like wool. Is. li, 8. 

Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment ; 
As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall 
be changed. Ps. cii, 26. 

Violence covered them as a garment. Ps. Ixxiii, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 127 

OF CLOTHING 

Let mine adversaries be clothed with dishonour, 
And let them cover themselves with their own shame 
as with a mantle. Ps. cix, 29. 



OF ROBES AND DIADEMS 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: 
My justice was as a robe and a diadem. 

Job, xxix, 14. 

Thou shalt also be a crown of beauty in the hand of 
the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy 
God. Is. Ixii, j;. 

For they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted on 
high over his land. Zech. ix, 16. 



OF ORNAMENTS 

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her at- 
tire? yet my people have forgotten me days without 
number. Jer. it, 32. 

His hands are as rings of gold, set with beryl. 

Song of Songs, v, 14. 

As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe 
thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird 
thyself with them, like a bride. Is. xlix, 18. 



OF UTENSILS 
OF THE HOME 

To sift the nations with the sieve of vanity. 

Is. xxx, 28. 



128 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF UTENSILS 
OF THE HOME 

And I will sift the house of Israel among all the 
nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall 
not the least grain fall upon the earth. 

Amos, ix, 9. 

Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in 
mine hand, O house of Israel. Jer. xviii, 6. 

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the 
clay, and thou art our potter; and we are all the 
work of thy hand. Is. Ixiv, 8. 

He hath made me an empty vessel. Jer. li, 34. 

I am like a broken vessel. Ps. xxxi, 12. 

For I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no 
pleasure. Jer. xlviii, 38. 

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron ; 
Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 

Ps. ii, 9. 

And I will break you in pieces, and ye shall fall 
like a pleasant vessel. Jer. xxv, 34. 

How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work 
of the hand of the potter! Lam. iv, 2. 

My strength is dried up like a potsherd. Ps. xxxi, 14. 

Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, 

As of a seething pot and burning rushes. 

Job, xli, 20. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 129 



OF UTENSILS 
OF THE HOME 

Woe to the bloody city, to the cauldron whose rust 
is therein, and whose rust is not gone out of it! 

Ezek. xxiv, 6. 

OF THE LAMP 

His eyes are lamps of fire. Dan. x, 6. 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 

And light unto my path. Ps. cxix, 105. 

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: 

And the Lord will lighten my darkness. 

II. Sam. xxii, 29. 

When his lamp shined upon my head, 

And by his light I walked through darkness. 

Job, xxix, 3. 

For the commandment is a lamp ; and the law is light. 

Prov. vi, 23. 

Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, 
And the spark of his fire shall not shine. 
The light shall be dark in his tent, 
And his lamp above his head shall be put out. 

Job, xviii, 5, 6. 

OF THE TORCH 

Out of his mouth go burning torches, 

And sparks of fire leap forth. Job, xli, 19. 



130 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE OVEN 
AND THE FURNACE 

They are as an oven heated by the baker ; he ceaseth 
to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough 
until it is leavened. Hos. vii, 4. 

For they have made ready their heart like an oven, 
whiles they lie in wait : their baker sleepeth all the 
night : in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 

Hos. vii, 6. 

They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges. 

Hos. vii, 7. 

For behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace. 

Malachi, iv, 1. 

Thou shalt make them as a fiery furnace in the time 
of thine anger. Ps. xxi, 9. 

The people also are as the fuel of fire; no man 
spareth his brother. Is. ix, 20. 

In the day that I brought them forth out of the 
land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace. 

Jer. xi, 4. 

As when the fire kindleth the brushwood, and the 
fire ;causeth the waters to boil. Is. Ixiv, 2. 



OF THE FIRE PAN 

In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like 
a pan of fire among wood, and like a torch among 
sheaves ; and they shall devour all the peoples 
round about, on the right hand and on the left. 

Zech. xii, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 131 



OF OCCUPATIONS 

The Forester 

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was 
no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I 
was a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees. 

Amos, vii, 14. 

The Woodcutter 

They seemed as men that lifted up axes upon a 
thicket of trees. Ps. Ixxiv, 5. 

For they shall march with an army, and come against 
her with axes, as hewers of wood. They shall cut 
down her forest, saith the Lord, though it cannot 
be searched; because they are more than locusts, 
and are innumerable. Jer. xlvi, 22, 23. 

And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood 
and drawers of water for the congregation, and 
for the altar of the Lord, unto this day, in the 
place which he should choose. Josh, ix, 2J. 



The Hunter and Fowler 

And Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field. 

Gen. xxv, 2J. 

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty 
one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before 
the Lord: wherefore it is said, Like Nimrod a 
mighty hunter before the Lord. Gen. x, 8, 9. 

And if my head exalt itself, thou huntest me as a 
lion. Job, x, 16. 



132 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF OCCUPATIONS 
The Hunter and Fowler 

Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the 

hunter, 
And as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 

Prov. vi, 5. 

For among my people are found wicked men : they 
watch, as fowlers lie in wait ; they set a trap, they 
catch men. Jer. v, 26. 

Traps and Snares 

He hath made a pit, and digged it, 

And is fallen into the ditch which he digged. 

Ps. vii, 15. 

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, 

And he walketh upon the toils. 

A gin shall take him by the heel, 

And a snare shall lay hold on him. 

A noose is hid for him in the ground, 

And a trap for him in the way. Job, xviii, 8-10. 

The Merchant 

Whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are 
the honourable of the earth. Is. xxiii, 8. 

She is like the merchant-ships ; 
She bringeth her food from afar. 

Prov. xxxi, 14. 

The Physician 

Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician 
there? why then is not the health of the daughter 
of my people recovered? . Jer. viii, 22. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 133 



OF OCCUPATIONS 

The Watchman 

One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of 
the night? The watchman said, The morning 
cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, in- 
quire ye: turn ye, come. Is. xxi, n, 12. 

My soul looketh for the Lord, 

More than watchmen look for the morning; 

Yea, more than watchmen for the morning. 

Ps. cxxx, 6. 

The Craftsman 

I have rolled up like a weaver my life; he will cut 
me off from the loom. Is. xxxviii, 12. 

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the 
fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his 
work. Is. liv, 16. 

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he 
that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth 
the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good: and 
he fastened it with nails, that it should not be 
moved. Is. xli, 7. 

Implements of the Craftsman 

And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place. 

Is. xxii, 23. 

Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth 
therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against 
him that shaketh it? as if a rod should shake them 
that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him 
that is not wood. Is. x } 15. 



134 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF OCCUPATIONS 

Implements of the Craftsman 

Woe unto him that draw iniquity with cords of 
vanity, and sin as it were with a cart-rope. 

Is. v, 1 8. 

The Servant 

As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, 
And as the hireling that looketh for his wages: 
So am I made to possess months of vanity, 
And wearisome nights are appointed to me. 

Job, vii, 2, 3. 

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand 

of their master, 
And the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her 

mistress ; 
So our eyes look unto the Lord our God, 
Until he have mercy upon us. Ps. cxxiii, 2. 



OF CITIES 

Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, 

Comely as Jerusalem, 

Terrible as an army with banners. 

Song of Songs, vi, 4. 

And they shall call thee the city of the Lord, the 
Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Is. Ix, 14. 

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant 
in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of 
thy covetousness. Jer. li, 13. 

This is the joyous city that dwelt 'carelessly, that said 
in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 135 



OF CITIES 

me: how is she become a desolation, a place for 
beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by 
her shall hiss, and wag his hand. Zeph. ii, 15. 

As I live, saith the King, whose name is the Lord 
of hosts, surely like Tabor among the mountains, 
like Carmel by the sea, so shall he &ome. 

Jer. xlvi, 18. 

(How hath) the golden city ceased! Is. x\v } 4. 

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people ! 

How is she become as a widow! 

She that was great among the nations, and princess 

among provinces, 
How is she become a tributary! Lam. i, 1. 



OF NATIONS 

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O 
house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty 
nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose 
language thou knowest not, neither understandest 
what they say. Jer. v, 15. 

Thou shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a 
deep speech that thou canst not perceive; of a 
strange tongue that thou canst not understand. 

Is. xxxiii, 19. 

Hear, O Israel, thou art to pass over Jordan this day, 
to go in to possess nations greater and mightier 
than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, 
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, 



136 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF NATIONS 

whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard 
say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak? 

Deut. ix, I, 2. 

Arise, get you up unto a nation that is at ease, that 
dwelleth without care, saith the Lord; which have 
neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. And 
their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude 
of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter unto all 
winds them that hath the corners of their hair 
polled; and I will bring their calamity from every 
side of them, saith the Lord. Jer. xlix, 31, 32. 

Behold, a people cometh from the north ; and a great 
nation, and many kings shall be stirred up from the 
uttermost parts of the earth. They lay hold on 
bow and spear ; they are cruel, and have no mercy ; 
their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon 
horses ; every one set in array, as a man to battle, 
against thee, O Babylon. Jer. I, 41, 42. 

Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is be- 
yond the rivers of Ethiopia: that sendeth ambassa- 
dors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the 
waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a na- 
tion tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their 
beginning onward ; a nation that meteth out and 
treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide. 

Is. xviii, 1, 2. 



XI— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING WORDS 
AND SPEECH AND THE WISDOM OF MAN 

OF WORDS AND SPEECH 

A word fitly spoken 

Is like apples of gold in baskets of silver. 

Prov. xxv, II. 

Doth not the ear try words, 

Even as the palate tasteth its meat? Job, xii, n. 

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of them 
that are taught, that I should know how to main- 
tain with words him that is weary. Is. I, 4. 

How long wilt thou speak these things? 
How long shall the words of thy mouth be like the 
mighty wind? Job, viii, 2. 

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, 
And the word that dealeth gently with thee? 

Job, xv, 11. 

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin 

He clappeth his hands among us, 

And multiplieth his words against God. 

Job, xxxiv, 37. 

I also will answer my part, 

I also will shew mine opinion. 

For I am full of words ; 

The spirit within me constraineth me. 

Job, xxxii, 17, 18. 
137 



138 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF WORDS AND SPEECH 

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! 
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. 

Ps. cxix, 103. 

His mouth was smooth as butter, 

But his heart was war: 

His words were softer than oil, 

Yet were they drawn swords. Ps. Iv, 21. 



Who -is this that darkeneth counsel 
By words without knowledge? 



Job, xxxviii, 2. 



And Moses said unto the Lord, O Lord, I am not 
eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast 
spoken to thy servant: for I am slow of speech, 
and of a slow tongue. Exod. iv, 10. 

I would order my cause before him, 
And fill my mouth with arguments. 

Job, xxiii, 4. 
I also could speak as ye do ; 
If your soul were in my soul's stead, 
I could join words together against you, 
And shake mine head at you. Job, xvi, 4. 

Do ye imagine to reprove words? 
Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are 
as wind. Job. vi, 26. 

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, 
Your defences are defences of day. Job, xii, 12. 

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; 
Yea, thine own lips testify against thee. Job, xv, 6. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 139 



OF WORDS AND SPEECH 

Let me not, I pray you, respect any man's person, 
Neither will I give fictitious titles unto any man. 

Job, xxxii, 21. 

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: 

Hold thy peace, and I will speak. > 

If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: 

Speak, for I desire to justify thee. 

If not, hearken thou unto me: 

Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom. 

Job, xxxiii, 31, 33. 



OF BOOKS AND WRITING 

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that 
he may run that readeth. Hab. ii, 2. 

Let them be blotted out of the book of life. 

Ps. Ixix, 4. 

And all vision is become unto you as the words of 
a book that is sealed. Is. xxix, 11. 

And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. 

Is. xxxiv, 4. 

The Pen 

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 

Ps. xlv, 1. 

Oh that my words were now written! 
Oh that they were written in a book! 
That with an iron pen and lead 
They were graven in the rock for ever! 

Job, xix, 23, 24. 



140 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF BOOKS AND WRITING 
The Pen 

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and 
with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the 
table of their heart, and upon the horns of your 
altar. Jer. xvii, I. 

OF WISDOM 

With aged men is wisdom, 

And in length of days understanding. Job, xii, 12. 

For it is precept upon precept; line upon line, line 
upon line; here a little, there a little. 

Is. xsviil, 10. 

No doubt ye are the people, 

And wisdom shall die with you. Job, xii, 2. 

Shall any teach God knowledge? 

Seeing he judgeth those that are high. Job, xxi, 22. 

Hear this, O foolish people, and without understand- 
ing: which have eyes, and see not; which have 
ears, and hear not. Jer. v, 21. 

Every man is become brutish and is without knowl- 
edge. Jer. x, 14. 

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, 

And I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 

For truly my words are not false: 

One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 

Job, xxxvi, 3, 4. 

There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the 
spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 141 



OF WISDOM 

father light and understanding and wisdom, like 
the wisdom of the gods, was found in him. 

Dan. :-, u. 

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither 
let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the 
rich man glory in his riches: but let him that 
glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth. and 
knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise 
lovingkindness. j eat, and righteousness in 

the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the 
Lord. Jcr. ix, 2$, 24. 

For my people is foolish, they know me not : they 
are sottish children, and they have none under- 
star ley are wise to do evil, but to do good 
they have no knowledge. Jer. i:\ 22. 



OF JUSTICE 

AND RIGHTEOUSNESS 

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, 
For the latter end of that man is peace. 

Ps. xxxviiy 37. 

He hath shewed thee. O man. what is good : and 
what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do 
justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly 
with thy God? vi, 8. 

Ye shall not respect persons in judgement : ye shall 
hear the small and the great alike : ye shall not be 
afraid of the face of man: for the judgement is 
God's. Deut. 1, 17. 



142 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF JUSTICE 

AND RIGHTEOUSNESS 

And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, 
neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but 
with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and re- 
prove with equity for the meek of the earth. 

Is. xi, 3, 4. 

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy 
mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and 
night, that thou mayest observe to do according 
to all that is written therein : for then thou shalt 
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt 
have good success. Josh. % 8. 



XII— DERIVED FROM OR DESCRIBING WAR 

AND THE WEAPONS AND PANOPLY OF 

WAR 

OF THE ARMY 

Terrible as an army with banners. 

Song of Songs, vi, 4. 

I chose out their way, and sat as chief, 

And dwelt as a king in the army. Job, xxix, 25. 

And the Lord God shall blow the trumpet, and shall 
go with whirlwinds of the south. Zech. ix, 14. 

His mouth was smooth as butter, 

But his heart was war. Ps. lv, 21. 

How are the mighty fallen, 

And the weapons of war perished ! 77. Sam. i, 27. 

They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like 
men of war. Joel, it, 7. 

He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war. 

Is. xlii, 13. 

And Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the 

mighty men of valour, and sent them forth by 
night. Josh, mix, 3. 

143 



144 The Old Testament Phrase Booh 



OF SHIELD AND HELMET 

Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an 

armory, 
Whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, 
All the shields of mighty men. 

Songs of Songs, iv, 4. 

As for God his way is perfect: 

The word of the Lord is tried; 

He is a shield unto all that trust in him. 

II. Sam. xxii, 31. 

His truth is a shield and a buckler. Ps. xci, 4. 

And he put on righteousness as a breastplate and an 
helmet of salvation upon his head. Is. lix, 17. 



OF THE SWORD 

Sharp as a two-edged sword. Prov. v, 4. 

Swords are in their lips. Ps. lix, 7. 

And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword. 

Is. xlix, 2. 

Who have whet their tongue like a sword. 

Ps. Ixiv, 3. 

His words were softer than oil, 

Yet they were drawn swords. Ps. Iv, 21. 

i 

As the sword of a mighty man. Zech. ix, 13. 

And by the sword shalt thou live. Gen. xxvii, 39. 



The Old Testament Phrase Booh 145 



OF THE SWORD 

He giveth them as the dust to his sword. Is. xli, 2. 

And all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the 
sword ; there was not a man left. Judg. iv, 16. 

A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and furbished: it 
is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is 
furbished that it may be as lightning. 

Ezek. xxi, 9, 10. 

And he placed at the east of the garden of Eden 
the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which 
turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of 
life. Gen. Hi, 24. 

OF THE SPEAR 

Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and 
arrows. Ps. hit, 4. 

But the man that toucheth them 
Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear; 
And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their 
place. //. Sam. xxiii, 7. 



OF THE BOW 
AND THE ARROW 

He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for his 
arrow. Lam. in, 12. 

He teacheth my hands to war; 

So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. 

//. Sam. xxii, 35. 



146 The Old Testament Phrase Book 



OF THE BOW 
AND THE ARROW 

He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood 
with his right hand as an adversary. 

Lam. ii, 4. 

And they bend their tongue as it were their bow for 
falsehood. Jer. ix, 3. 

For, lo, the wicked bend the bow, 
They make ready their arrow upon the string, 
That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in 
heart. Ps. xi, 2. 

And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words. 

Ps. Ixiv, 3. 

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: 
one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his 
mouth, but in his heart he layeth in wait for him. 

Jer. ix, 8. 

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, 
The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up. 

Job, vi, 4. 

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, 
Nor the arrow that flieth by day. Ps. xci, 5. 

Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, 
all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no 
arrows; for she hath sinned against the Lord. 

Jer. i, 14. 

Sharp arrows of the mighty, 

With coals of juniper. Ps. cxx, 4. 



The Old Testament Phrase Book 147 



OF THE BOW 
AND THE ARROW 



And he hath made me a polished shaft, in his quiver 
hath he kept me close. Is. xlix, 2. 



OF THE FORTRESS 

God is my strong fortress: 

And he guideth the perfect in his way. 

77. Sam. xxii, 33. 

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble : 
and he knoweth them that put their trust in him. 

Nahum, 2, 7. 

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my de- 
liverer ; 

My God, my strong rock, in him will I trust; 

My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high 
tower. Ps. xvii, 1, 2. 

He breaketh me with breach upon breach. 

Job, xvi, 14. 

OF THE BEACON 

Till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a moun- 
tain, and as an ensign on an hill. Is. xxx, ij. 



OF DESOLATION 

And he hath dwelt in desolate cities, 

In houses where no man inhabited, 

Which were ready to become heaps. Job, xv, 28. 

Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth 
and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bride- 



148 The Old Testament Phrase Book 

OF DESOLATION 

groom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the 
millstones and the light of the candle. And this 
whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonish- 
ment; and these nations shall serve the king of 
Babylon seventy years. Jer. xxv, 10. 

And he will stretch out his hand against the north, 
and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a 
desolation, and dry like the wilderness. And herds 
shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of 
the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine 
shall lodge in the chapiters thereof; their voice 
shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in 
the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar- 
work. This is the joyous city that dwelt care- 
lessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is 
none else beside me: how is she become a desola- 
tion, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one 
that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. 

Zeph. ii, 13-15- 

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of 
the Chaldeans' pride, shall be as when God over- 
threw Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be 
inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from gen- 
eration to generation: neither shall the Arabian 
pitch tent there ; neither shall shepherds make their 
flocks to lie down there. But wild beasts of the 
desert shall lie there: and their houses shall be 
full of doleful creatures ; and ostriches shall dwell 
there, and satyrs shall dance there. And wolves 
shall cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleas- 
ant palaces : and her time is near to come, and her 
days shall not be prolonged. Is. xiii, 19-21. 



A word fitly spoken 

Is like apples of gold in baskets of silver. 

Prov. xxv, ii. 



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